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Pakistan announced a significant shift in its military posture with the establishment of a dedicated Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC) and the unveiling of the Fatah-IV missile. These developments underscore Pakistan’s intent to strengthen its conventional strike capabilities in light of recent tensions with India.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed the creation of the ARFC on August 13 during a ceremony in Islamabad on the eve of country’s 78th Independence Day.

The new command, he said, will be equipped with “state-of-the-art technology” and possess the ability to “strike at the enemy from all sides.” While Sharif stopped short of detailing the force’s exact arsenal, military officials have indicated that ARFC will oversee ballistic and cruise missile operations designed to sharpen Pakistan’s conventional warfighting edge.

New Force for a New Era

Pakistan prime minister described the force as “equipped with modern technology and having the capability to strike at the enemy from different direction,” adding that it is “another milestone in strengthening our conventional warfare capacity.

Pakistani security officials confirmed the new force will operate under its own military command structured for missile deployment in conventional war scenarios.

The development comes in response to May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan. The four-day conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors from May 7-10 was the most intense military engagement between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.

Triggered by Indian airstrikes, the fighting escalated into a high-tempo air campaign, with Pakistan claiming to have downed multiple Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, a MiG-29, a Su-30MKI, and a Heron UAV, over Indian-administered Kashmir and Punjab.

The aerial battle also marked the first use of conventionally armed ballistic missiles by Pakistan, with Fatah-I and Fatah-II systems targeting Indian positions. Pakistani officials acknowledged that while their air defenses and fighter jets performed effectively, their conventional missile strike capability needed broader reach and precision. ARFC aims to fill that gap, providing a dedicated command focused on missile deployment in a conventional conflict setting.

Read IRIA Exclusive: Inside the Largest Beyond Visual Range Aerial Combat between India and Pakistan

Fatah-IV Missile: Expanding the Arsenal

Just before the ARFC announcement, images of the newly unveiled Fatah-IV missile circulated widely on social media and in Pakistani news reports. Though the government has not officially confirmed the missile, an information board displayed alongside the weapon revealed striking specifications:

• Range: 750 km
• Mass: 1,530 kg
• Length: 7.5 meters
• Speed: Mach 0.7
• Accuracy: 5 meters Circular Error Probable (CEP)
• Minimum Flight Altitude: 50 meters
• Warhead Type: Blast fragmentation
• Warhead Weight: 330 kg

These figures place the Fatah-IV firmly in the class of long-range, land-attack cruise missiles designed for high-precision, deep-strike operations. Its subsonic speed and terrain-hugging profile are intended to reduce radar detection, increasing its chances of penetrating dense air defenses. Analysts believe the system uses GPS and terrain contour matching to maintain accuracy, and may include an onboard altimeter to support low-level flight over varying terrain.

This missile represents a significant evolution in Pakistan’s Fatah series, which has progressed steadily from shorter-range guided rockets (Fatah-I and II) to ballistic missiles like the Abdali (formerly Fatah-III). Unlike its predecessors, the Fatah-IV’s extended range and cruise missile design allow it to strike targets far beyond frontlines without triggering a nuclear response.

Fatah Rocket series

The Fatah-IV marks the latest step in a steady evolution of Pakistan’s conventional missile development. Since 2021, the Fatah series has progressed from the short-range, guided Fatah-I (140 km), to the extended-range Fatah-II (250-400 km), and the ballistic Fatah-III (renamed “Abdali”) with a 450 km range. The Fatah-IV pushes that reach to 750 km, allowing strikes well beyond the frontline.

Unlike earlier systems, the Fatah-IV occupies a middle ground between battlefield support weapons and strategic delivery systems. It complements the nuclear-capable Babur line but is clearly tailored for conventional use.

Analysts note its rapid entry into service stands in contrast to India’s longer-delayed Nirbhay cruise missile program, giving Pakistan a functional, precision-guided standoff option already integrated into the army’s operational framework.

Strategic Implications: Precision without Escalation

The introduction of the Fatah-IV and the formation of the Army Rocket Force Command reflect a deliberate shift in Pakistan’s conventional strategy: expanding deep-strike capabilities while keeping nuclear thresholds intact. By fielding a missile that can target enemy infrastructure with high accuracy, Islamabad aims to deter without provoking uncontrollable escalation.

The May conflict highlighted how quickly tensions can escalate and why missile forces are now central to modern military strategy, with similar developments elsewhere such as China’s PLA Rocket Force

With the Army Rocket Force and Fatah-IV, Pakistan is reshaping its conventional strike power, deepening deterrence while staying below the nuclear threshold.