Written by MAJOR (r) Haroon Rasheed Defense and Strategic Analyst, Member REC ABAD
Overview
On 12 August 2025, Pakistan formally introduced the Fatah-IV, the latest addition to its growing Fatah series of indigenous missiles. This newest member is a ground-launched, subsonic cruise missile, marking a significant evolution from prior variants that were predominantly guided rockets or ballistic systems.
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Technical Specifications
According to defense analysis:
- Range: 750 km
- Mass: 1,530 kg
- Length: 7.5 m
- Speed: Mach 0.7 (subsonic cruise)
- Accuracy: 5 m Circular Error Probable (CEP)
- Minimum Flight Altitude: 50 m (terrain-hugging)
- Warhead: Blast-fragmentation, ~330 kg
These specs place the Fatah-IV in a category of highly accurate, long-range conventional strike systems, capable of deep penetration while avoiding detection and interception.
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Background and Evolution of the Fatah Series
The Fatah missile series — developed under the leadership of NESCOM and promoted by GIDS — marks Pakistan’s move toward high-precision, indigenously produced guided weapons.
Fatah-I: Introduced in 2021 as a guided multiple-launch rocket system (GMLRS), with ranges between 70–140 km and high accuracy.
Fatah-II: Revealed in 2023 and inducted in 2024, this variant extended range to around 290–400 km, featuring a larger warhead and advanced guidance.
The Fatah-IV deviates from these earlier rocket-based systems by being a land-attack cruise missile, akin to the Babur series used for strategic deterrence but now repurposed for conventional use.
Strategic Significance
1. Expanded Conventional Precision Strike Capability
The Fatah-IV’s range and accuracy enable Pakistan to target high-value military and infrastructural assets deep within adversarial territory — without relying on strategic (nuclear) forces.
2. Enhancing Tactical Flexibility
Previously, conventional long-range strikes were limited to tactical rockets or reserved strategic systems like Babur. The Fatah-IV opens a new non-nuclear strike vector for the Pakistan Army.
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3. Counter to Regional Doctrines
With reference to India’s “Cold Start” doctrine, Fatah systems have been envisioned as tools to engage early incursions or larger strategic threats. The addition of a low-altitude, terrain-hugging cruise missile significantly strengthens this capability.
4. Survivability in Modern Battlefields
Terrain-hugging, low-altitude flight, coupled with high accuracy, makes Fatah-IV more resilient to interception — especially when compared to traditional ballistic trajectories.
5. Doctrinal Shift and Force Structuring
The induction of Fatah-IV suggests a strategic restructuring, where the Pakistan Army develops an independent, conventional strike arm — diverting non-nuclear missions away from the Strategic Forces Command.
Conclusion
The unveiling of the Fatah-IV heralds a pivotal shift in Pakistan’s defense strategy — a move toward long-range, precise, and conventional power projection using domestically developed cruise missile technology. Its combination of range, accuracy, and stealthy flight profile offers the Pakistan Army a versatile tool to enhance deterrence and operational flexibility.
As a Defense Analyst, this development points to a deliberate modernization aimed at expanding non-nuclear strike capabilities and adapting to evolving regional threats with sophisticated autonomous capabilities.
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Major (R) Haroon Rasheed is a defense and strategic analyst specializing in South Asian military dynamics, deterrence strategy, and defense modernization. He is a member of the Research and Evaluation Cell for Advancing Basic Amenities and Development (REC ABAD).
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