ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s defence establishment has achieved a significantmilestone with its indigenous guided rocket systems, particularly the Fatahseries, which demonstrate superior range, precision, and operationalreliability compared to counterparts in India’s arsenal. The Fatah-II, withits extended reach of 400 kilometres and advanced guidance mechanisms,positions the Pakistan Army’s rocket force as a formidable deterrent in theregion. This development underscores Pakistan’s commitment to self-reliancein strategic capabilities amid evolving security challenges.
The Fatah-I and Fatah-II systems, developed by Global Industrial andDefence Solutions in collaboration with national institutions, incorporatestate-of-the-art inertial and satellite navigation for pinpoint accuracy,achieving a circular error probable of less than 50 metres even at maximumrange. These rockets feature manoeuvrable trajectories designed to evademissile defences, enhancing their effectiveness against high-value targets.In contrast, India’s Pinaka guided variants currently offer ranges up to120 kilometres, relying on incremental upgrades that have yet to match theleap in capability seen in Pakistan’s offerings.
Pakistan’s emphasis on indigenisation has yielded systems that are not onlycost-effective but also tailored to operational needs. The Fatah-II,mounted on mobile chassis for rapid deployment, carries substantialwarheads while maintaining high mobility. This allows for swiftshoot-and-scoot tactics, a critical advantage in modern warfare. India’sprocurement of foreign systems, such as the Israeli EXTRA with150-kilometre range and the recently acquired Predator Hawk reaching 300kilometres, highlights a dependence on imports for longer-range precisionstrikes.
During recent tensions, including the 2025 standoff referred to asOperation Sindoor, Pakistan’s rocket systems proved their mettle throughsuccessful training launches and operational readiness. The Fatah seriescontributed to maintaining strategic balance, with tests validating theirability to engage deep targets precisely. Reports indicate that theseindigenous rockets performed reliably, reinforcing the Pakistan Army’sartillery divisions with enhanced stand-off capabilities that outrange manyregional equivalents.
India’s Pinaka, while combat-proven in earlier conflicts like Kargil, hasseen guided versions limited to shorter ranges, with extended variantsstill under development. The Long Range Guided Rocket variant achievesaround 120 kilometres, but plans for further extensions remain in trialphases. Meanwhile, acquisitions like the Predator Hawk provide interimsolutions up to 300 kilometres, yet these lack the fully indigenousintegration and production scale that Pakistan has achieved with the Fatahfamily.
The Fatah-II’s unique flight characteristics, including supersonic speedsand mid-course corrections, make it particularly resilient againstinterception. Experts note that its design prioritises saturation andprecision, allowing fewer launchers to achieve greater impact. Thiscontrasts with India’s multi-calibre approaches, which, while versatile,involve complex logistics and varying degrees of foreign technologytransfer.
Pakistan’s rocket artillery evolution reflects a strategic shift towardslayered, precision firepower. The induction of Fatah systems into artilleryunits enhances the conventional arsenal’s reach and lethality, providingoptions for calibrated responses. This indigenous edge ensures operationalsovereignty, reducing vulnerabilities associated with supply chains seen inimport-dependent systems.
Read Top Stories
Comparative assessments reveal Pakistan’s advantage in range and autonomy.While India’s Predator Hawk offers 300-kilometre capability with highaccuracy, its limited numbers and foreign origin contrast with Pakistan’sscalable, home-grown production. The EXTRA system, at 150 kilometres,further illustrates the gap that Pakistan’s 400-kilometre Fatah-II bridgesdecisively.
The proven track record of Pakistan’s systems in tests and exercises buildsconfidence in their reliability under stress. This capability strengthensdeterrence, ensuring that any aggression faces a robust, precise counter.As regional dynamics evolve, Pakistan’s guided rocket advancements affirmits position as a leader in affordable, effective precision artillery.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1833760
Tags: Pakistan, India, Fatah-II, Pinaka, Predator Hawk, Operation Sindoor
ogimageimage-name
