ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army said on Tuesday it had successfully test-fired the Fatah-4, a newly inducted ground-launched cruise missile with a range of 750 kilometers, describing it as a major boost to the country’s conventional strike capabilities.

Developed indigenously and now part of the Pakistan Army’s Rocket Force Command, the Fatah-4 is designed to fly at low altitudes along the contours of the terrain, a capability known as “terrain hugging,” to help it evade enemy air defense and missile interception systems.

Pakistan’s newly established Army Rocket Force Command was announced in August 2025 to consolidate the country’s conventional missile and rocket capabilities under a single structure. 

The command is aimed at improving operational readiness and coordination in conventional missile warfare, while nuclear-capable systems remain under the separate Strategic Plans Division. Analysts see the new formation as part of Islamabad’s effort to strengthen conventional deterrence amid regional security tensions, particularly the brief but bruising war with India in May. 

“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,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.

“Equipped with advanced avionics and state of the art navigational aids, this weapon system is capable of evading enemy’s missile defense system due to terrain hugging features and engaging targets with high precision.”

The statement said the Fatah-4 would “further enhance the reach, lethality and survivability of Pakistan Army’s conventional missile systems,” referring to weapons designed for use with conventional, rather than nuclear, warheads.

Cruise missiles like the Fatah-4 are powered throughout their flight, unlike ballistic missiles which follow a fixed arc, allowing them to maneuver in the air and fly under radar coverage. 

A 750-kilometer range enables Pakistan to target military installations or strategic infrastructure deep inside neighboring territory, while the missile’s ground-launched design means it can be deployed and fired from mobile launchers on land.

Pakistan and India, both nuclear-armed neighbors with a history of wars and border skirmishes, have long sought to modernize their missile arsenals to maintain credible deterrence. 

While Pakistan says such developments are aimed at strengthening its conventional and defensive capabilities, analysts view systems like the Fatah-4 as part of Islamabad’s effort to narrow the conventional gap with New Delhi, which has continued to expand its missile defense network and develop longer-range strike systems in recent years.