Pakistan Conducts Fatah-1 Guided Multi-Launch Rocket System Test

The Pakistan military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement that Pakistan conducted a successful test flight of an indigenously developed guided multi-launch rocket system. The Fatah-1 rocket system is “capable of delivering a conventional warhead up to a range of 140 km (nearly 87 miles). The weapon system will give Pakistan Army capability of a precision target engagement deep in enemy territory. The Pakistan Army currently possesses a wide range of Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM), Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBM), Battlefield Ballistic Missiles (BBM), Surface to Surface Cruise Missiles (SSCM) and Rocket Artillery.

The Fatah-1 was primarily developed to hit targets without leaving behind the unexploded ordnance. The extended range guided MLRS is a developed variant of the guided multi-launch rocket system family usually with an extended range of up to 150km. The development of a conventional system by Pakistan seems to be a response to the Indian focus on the development of its conventional capabilities, besides improving response options to India’s Cold Start Doctrine. Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have worsened since New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status and imposed a lockdown in August 2019.

Pakistan Army inducts A-100 Rocket in Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) of its Corps of Artillery. A- 100 Rocket has been indigenously developed by Pakistani scientists and engineers. With over 100 kilometers range the Rocket is a highly effective and potent for interdiction that can effectively disrupt enemy’s mobilization and assembly. The A-100 is a 300 mm, 10-tube multiple rocket launcher developed by Beijing-based China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology for the Chinese PLA ground forces. In 2019, Pakistan’s inter service public relations released an official statement regarding the indigenously developed A-100 and its induction as part of its Multiple Launch Rocket System of the artillery corps.