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The Pakistan Army successfully carried out a “training launch” of its newly inducted Fatah-4 ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM), marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing missile modernization program.

The test, conducted under the Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC), demonstrated the missile’s 750-kilometer (466-mile) range and its ability to conduct precision strikes while evading detection by advanced air defense systems.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Fatah-4 is equipped with “advanced avionics and state-of-the-art navigational aids” and features a terrain-hugging flight profile designed to penetrate enemy air defenses.

The launch event was observed by the Chief of General Staff, senior military officers, scientists, and engineers, underscoring its importance within Pakistan’s defense establishment. Following the test, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and the Services Chiefs congratulated the teams involved.

President Zardari hailed the successful firing as a “milestone in Pakistan’s defense system,” adding: “Pakistan’s defense is and will remain impregnable.” He described the Fatah-4 as evidence of the nation’s “scientific self-reliance.”

🚨🚨🚨#ISPR
Rawalpindi, 30 Sep, 2025

A successful training launch of newly inducted indigenously developed Fatah-4, Ground Launched Cruise Missile was conducted today by #Pakistan Army at a range of 750 Kilometers. #PakistanArmy #COAS #FATAH4

Equipped with advanced avionics… pic.twitter.com/Blie62Tnn7

— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) September 30, 2025

Specifications of Fatah-4

The Fatah-4 is the latest in Pakistan’s Fatah missile family, a series of surface-to-surface systems intended for long-range conventional strikes. Official specifications released by the military indicate that the missile has:

• Cruise speed: Mach 0.7
• Range: 750 km
• Warhead weight: 330 kg
• Total mass: 1,530 kg
• Minimum flight altitude: 50 m
• Accuracy: Within 5 m CEP (circular error probable)

The missile is considered a derivative of the Babur-series cruise missiles, long associated with Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence strategy. Since 2018, however, the Babur platform has been adapted for conventional roles, leading to systems such as the Harbah dual-purpose cruise missile for the Pakistan Navy and now the Fatah-4 for the Army.

The Fatah-4 shares design lineage with Pakistan’s Babur-series land-attack cruise missiles, which have an estimated range of 700 kilometers. Unlike the nuclear-capable Babur, the Fatah-4 is designed primarily for conventional roles.

The missile also reflects lessons from the Harbah cruise missile, an adaptation of Babur for naval use. The Harbah NG, an export variant, has a stated range of 280 kilometers, cruising speed of Mach 0.6–0.8, and is guided by a GNSS-supported inertial navigation system (INS) with digital scene matching area correlation (DSMAC).

The missile features a terminal-stage seeker, either imaging infrared (IIR) or active radar homing (ARH). By extending these design principles into the ground-launched Fatah-4, Pakistan has developed a weapon that military officials say can reliably defeat enemy detection and interception.

Fatah Missile Family

The Fatah series has emerged as a key pillar of Pakistan’s push to strengthen its conventional strike capabilities.

• Fatah-1: A 301 mm guided multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) with a range of 140 km.
• Fatah-2: A 600 mm ballistic missile with a range of 400 km.
• Fatah-3: Expected to be a 450 km-range system, but not yet revealed. Analysts suggest it may have been redesignated under the “Abdali Weapon System,” a ballistic missile tested in May 2025.
• Fatah-4: A 750 km GLCM, designed for long-range precision conventional strikes.

The introduction of the Fatah-4 significantly expands Pakistan’s conventional missile reach, placing critical strategic assets within range while bolstering its ability to counter India’s growing missile and air defense systems.

Missile Modernization

The launch comes amid Pakistan’s broader efforts to upgrade its missile arsenal. The Army Rocket Force Command, formally established in August 2025, oversees conventional missile systems, including the Fatah series and long-range rocket artillery.

Over the past two years, Pakistan has introduced multiple new systems under its indigenous production drive. In May 2025, it tested a shorter-range surface-to-surface missile with a range of 120 km during the “Ex Indus” exercises. In late 2024, the Pakistan Navy tested a ship-launched ballistic missile with a range of 350 km.

The new developments parallel India’s defense modernization. New Delhi has fielded advanced cruise and ballistic missiles and layered air and missile defense systems, creating a competitive dynamic that continues to drive Islamabad’s focus on range, precision, and survivability.

Military analysts say the Fatah-4 adds a new layer of deterrence in South Asia. By fielding a modern, terrain-hugging cruise missile, Pakistan aims to ensure its conventional forces remain credible even in the face of India’s expanding defenses.

Pakistan’s Missile Arsenal

Pakistan maintains a diverse mix of nuclear and conventional missile systems:

• Nuclear-capable ballistic missiles:
  • Shaheen series (I, II, III) – 750–2,750 km
  • Ghauri (Hatf-V) – ~1,500 km
  • Ababeel – ~2,200 km with MIRV capability
  • Nasr (Hatf-IX) – ~70 km tactical range
• Conventional cruise missiles:
  • Babur series – ~700 km
  • Ra’ad (I & II) – 350–600 km air-launched
  • Fatah series – latest Fatah-4 with 750 km
• Other short-range systems:
  • Abdali (Hatf-II) – ~180 km

The addition of the Fatah-4 enhances Pakistan’s ability to conduct precision conventional strikes deep into adversary territory, reducing reliance on nuclear systems for deterrence.

By fielding a missile with a 750 km range, precision accuracy, and terrain-hugging capability, Pakistan has bolstered its ability to penetrate layered defenses and hit critical targets.

The test highlights Islamabad’s ongoing emphasis on conventional deterrence as a counterbalance to India’s missile and defense modernization. As both nations continue to invest in long-range strike systems, regional security analysts warn of a deepening strategic competition in South Asia.