{"id":31068,"date":"2025-08-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=31068"},"modified":"2025-08-22T10:14:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T07:14:02","slug":"pakistan-launches-army-rocket-force-and-unveils-fatah-iv-missile-to-bolster-long-range-strike-capability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/pakistan-launches-army-rocket-force-and-unveils-fatah-iv-missile-to-bolster-long-range-strike-capability\/","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan launches Army Rocket Force and unveils Fatah-IV Missile to bolster long-range strike capability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

4 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s intent to strengthen its conventional strike capabilities in light of recent tensions with India.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed the creation of the ARFC on August 13 during a ceremony in Islamabad on the eve of country\u2019s 78th Independence Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new command, he said, will be equipped with \u201cstate-of-the-art technology\u201d and possess the ability to \u201cstrike at the enemy from all sides.\u201d While Sharif stopped short of detailing the force\u2019s exact arsenal, military officials have indicated that ARFC will oversee ballistic and cruise missile operations designed to sharpen Pakistan\u2019s conventional warfighting edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


New Force for a New Era<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistan prime minister described the force as \u201cequipped with modern technology and having the capability to strike at the enemy from different direction,\u201d adding that it is \u201canother milestone in strengthening our conventional warfare capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistani security officials confirmed the new force will operate under its own military command structured for missile deployment in conventional war scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pakistan\u2019s<\/a>
Pakistan\u2019s Fatah-I and Fatah-II guided multiple launch rocket systems. (Image Credit: Anadolu Agency)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read IRIA Exclusive: Inside the Largest Beyond Visual Range Aerial Combat between India and Pakistan<\/mark><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Fatah-IV Missile: Expanding the Arsenal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n