Pakistan on Thursday test-fired the nuclear-capable Hatf-VIII air-launched cruise missile, which the military said would enhance its capability to strike at targets on land and at sea.

The test of the Hatf-VIII or Raad missile, which has a range of 350 kilometres, was part of a 'continuing process of validating the design parameters of the weapon system', said a statement from the military. The statement did not say where the missile was tested.

Describing the launch as successful, it said the indigenously developed missile had 'special stealth capabilities'.

It statement said the Raad, which means 'thunder' in Arabic, was a low-altitude, terrain following missile with high manoeuvrability and could deliver all types of warheads 'with great accuracy'.

The Raad, exclusively developed for launch from aerial platforms, 'has enabled Pakistan to achieve a greater strategic stand-off capability on land and at sea', the statement said, adding such complex cruise missile technology has been developed by 'only a few countries of the world'.

In a message, President Pervez Musharraf [Images] and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani congratulated scientists and engineers on their success in the test.

The Raad was tested for the first time in August last year. Officials earlier said that the missile had a very low probability of detection due to its stealth design and the materials used in its construction.

Pakistan has conducted a series of missile tests in the past few months. The test of the Raad came a day after India successfully launched ballistic missile Agni-III which has a range of 3,500 km.