Pakistan’s latest Fatah-IV cruise missile, unveiled with a 750 km range and advanced guidance systems, delivered a strong battlefield performance in the May 2025 conflict with India. Equipped with terrain hugging flight and high precision targeting, the missile showcased Pakistan’s growing capability for long range, conventional warfare under the new Army Rocket Force Command a major shift in South Asia’s strategic equation.
Pakistan’s induction of the Fatah-IV ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) marks the country’s most advanced step in conventional strike capability. According to ISPR, the missile’s 750 km range, terrain hugging flight path, and state of the art avionics make it one of the most sophisticated conventional missiles in the region (Gulf News).
Unlike earlier systems designed mainly for deterrence, Fatah-IV demonstrates Pakistan’s confidence in high precision, non nuclear warfare, showcasing technological parity with the world’s leading cruise missile powers.
Built on proven success from Fatah-I to Fatah-IV
The Fatah series evolved from short range rocket artillery into precision strike missiles. Fatah-I and Fatah-II were successfully deployed during the May 2025 conflict, proving that Pakistan’s indigenous design and production can perform under combat stress (Stimson Center).
Fatah-IV builds directly on those operational lessons extending range, refining guidance, and integrating digital command links from the newly created Army Rocket Force Command, a unit modeled to centralize long range firepower and enhance coordination with ground forces (Janes).
Technical capability – Pakistan’s leap in precision warfare
- Range: 750 km verified in test launch
- Propulsion: Turbofan/turbojet engine enabling sustained low-altitude cruise
- Guidance: Inertial + satellite navigation, with likely TERCOM/DSMAC terminal guidance for pinpoint accuracy
- Warhead: Conventional high explosive or penetrator payload
- Stealth: Low-observable body, terrain following radar altimeter, minimal radar cross-section
ISPR describes it as “a system that will further enhance the reach, lethality and survivability of Pakistan Army’s conventional missile systems.”
Independent analysts note that Fatah-IV’s terrain-hugging flight at under 100 m altitude sharply limits radar detection, giving Pakistan a stealthy deep strike option comparable to the Babur series but with higher accuracy and mobility (Arab News).
The May 2025 conflict – Pakistan’s operational validation
During the May 2025 confrontation, Pakistan’s Fatah-I and Fatah-II missiles were launched against Indian forward and logistics positions. These systems performed with high reliability, striking pre-designated targets with minimal collateral damage. Western think tanks later noted that Pakistan demonstrated “effective use of indigenous precision systems” under high tempo conflict conditions (Stimson Center).
Although some Indian intercept claims circulated, no independent evidence verified any major Pakistani missile loss a sign that the Fatah systems penetrated deep into contested airspace and delivered accurate results. The performance validated years of investment in digital guidance, data-fusion, and electronic counter measure technologies.
Strategic meaning – strengthening conventional deterrence
Fatah-IV changes South Asia’s deterrence landscape. With its 750 km range, Pakistan can hold at risk critical Indian military installations from airbases to logistics hubs without crossing the nuclear threshold. That grants Islamabad credible conventional deterrence, reducing escalation pressures while maintaining response flexibility.
Analysts in Al Jazeera and Janes observed that Pakistan’s creation of the Army Rocket Force Command complements this logic: a centralized structure for rapid conventional precision strike, integrated with surveillance and target-acquisition networks (Al Jazeera).
Technological maturity and indigenous innovation
The success of Fatah-IV also reflects Pakistan’s maturing defence industrial ecosystem. Local engineering teams working with the National Defence Complex and private sector partners indigenized components previously imported, such as guidance chips and composite airframes.
This indigenization grants autonomy from sanctions and secures Pakistan’s long term deterrence independence. Defence observers call the Fatah program “Pakistan’s pathfinder for high end missile manufacturing.”
Performance vs counter measures
Indian integrated air defence systems (S-400, Barak-8) struggled to intercept low flying projectiles during the 2025 conflict. Terrain masking and low radar signature limited their detection window. The Fatah series’ terrain hugging cruise proved especially difficult for long range radars optimised against ballistic arcs.
By integrating electronic counter measure packages, Pakistan effectively neutralised India’s sensor advantage marking a major triumph in electronic warfare and missile survivability.
Strategic takeaway deterrence through precision, not escalation
Fatah-IV’s induction signals a shift in Pakistan’s strategic doctrine from deterrence by threat to deterrence by capability. Islamabad can now deliver precise, proportionate retaliation deep inside enemy territory without risking strategic escalation.
This approach keeps South Asia’s nuclear threshold intact while showcasing Pakistan’s technological maturity, professional command structure, and commitment to stability through strength.
Built on proven success – from Fatah-I to Fatah-IV
The Fatah series evolved from short range rocket artillery into precision strike missiles. Fatah-I and Fatah-II were successfully deployed during the May 2025 conflict, proving that Pakistan’s indigenous design and production can perform under combat stress (Stimson Center).
Fatah-IV builds directly on those operational lessons extending range, refining guidance, and integrating digital command links from the newly created Army Rocket Force Command, a unit modeled to centralize long range firepower and enhance coordination with ground forces (Janes).
Technical capability – Pakistan’s leap in precision warfare
- Range: 750 km verified in test launch
- Propulsion: Turbofan/turbojet engine enabling sustained low-altitude cruise
- Guidance: Inertial + satellite navigation, with likely TERCOM/DSMAC terminal guidance for pinpoint accuracy
- Warhead: Conventional high explosive or penetrator payload
- Stealth: Low observable body, terrain following radar altimeter, minimal radar cross section
ISPR describes it as “a system that will further enhance the reach, lethality and survivability of Pakistan Army’s conventional missile systems.”
Independent analysts note that Fatah-IV’s terrain hugging flight at under 100 m altitude sharply limits radar detection, giving Pakistan a stealthy deep strike option comparable to the Babur series but with higher accuracy and mobility (Arab News).
The May 2025 conflict – Pakistan’s operational validation
During the May 2025 confrontation, Pakistan’s Fatah-I and Fatah-II missiles were launched against Indian forward and logistics positions. These systems performed with high reliability, striking pre-designated targets with minimal collateral damage. Western think tanks later noted that Pakistan demonstrated “effective use of indigenous precision systems” under high tempo conflict conditions (Stimson Center).
Although some Indian intercept claims circulated, no independent evidence verified any major Pakistani missile loss a sign that the Fatah systems penetrated deep into contested airspace and delivered accurate results. The performance validated years of investment in digital guidance, data fusion, and electronic counter measure technologies.
Strategic meaning – strengthening conventional deterrence
Fatah-IV changes South Asia’s deterrence landscape. With its 750 km range, Pakistan can hold at risk critical Indian military installations from airbases to logistics hubs without crossing the nuclear threshold. That grants Islamabad credible conventional deterrence, reducing escalation pressures while maintaining response flexibility.
Analysts in Al Jazeera and Janes observed that Pakistan’s creation of the Army Rocket Force Command complements this logic: a centralized structure for rapid conventional precision strike, integrated with surveillance and target acquisition networks (Al Jazeera).
Technological maturity and indigenous innovation
The success of Fatah-IV also reflects Pakistan’s maturing defence-industrial ecosystem. Local engineering teams working with the National Defence Complex and private sector partners indigenized components previously imported, such as guidance chips and composite airframes.
This indigenization grants autonomy from sanctions and secures Pakistan’s long term deterrence independence. Defence observers call the Fatah program “Pakistan’s pathfinder for high end missile manufacturing.”
Performance vs counter measures
Indian integrated air defence systems (S-400, Barak-8) struggled to intercept low flying projectiles during the 2025 conflict. Terrain masking and low radar signature limited their detection window. The Fatah series’ terrain hugging cruise proved especially difficult for long range radars optimised against ballistic arcs.
By integrating electronic counter-measure packages, Pakistan effectively neutralised India’s sensor advantage marking a major triumph in electronic warfare and missile survivability.
Strategic takeaway deterrence through precision, not escalation
Fatah-IV’s induction signals a shift in Pakistan’s strategic doctrine from deterrence by threat to deterrence by capability. Islamabad can now deliver precise, proportionate retaliation deep inside enemy territory without risking strategic escalation.
This approach keeps South Asia’s nuclear threshold intact while showcasing Pakistan’s technological maturity, professional command structure, and commitment to stability through strength.
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