- Pakistan successfully test-fired Fatah-2 Extended Range missile.
- Missile boasts high precision, advanced navigation, and evasion.
- India concerned by missile's extended range and evasion capabilities.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday successfully test-fired the hypersonic ballistic missile Fatah-2 Extended Range (ER), capable of engaging long-range targets with high precision, the army said. According to the army, the weapon system is equipped with advanced navigation and state-of-the-art avionics. "It is capable of engaging targets with high precision and defeating the enemy's missile defence systems due to its unique trajectory and manoeuvrability features," the army said in a statement.
It added that the Fatah-2 ER, with its extended range, will further enhance the army''s reach and capability of engaging deep targets. The latest launch was witnessed by the Commander of the Army Rocket Force Command, senior officers from the Pakistan Army, scientists and engineers.
President Asif Ali Zardari. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff & Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir and Services Chiefs congratulated the scientists and engineers on the successful test launch of the extended-range version of the Fatah-2 weapon system.
Last week, Pakistan test-fired an extended version of the Fatah-4 ground-launched cruise missile. In May, Pakistan conducted the successful test firing of the Fatah-IV ground-launched cruise missile.
Why is it concerning for India?
The test is significant for India from a military-planning perspective, particularly because Pakistan says the new Fatah-4 variant has greater range, improved accuracy and enhanced survivability. However, the exact extended range has not been publicly disclosed, so its precise impact should not be overstated.
1. Longer reach: The earlier Fatah-4 was publicly reported with a 750-km range. Pakistan has now tested an extended-range version, but has not said how much additional range it has gained. That potentially expands the number of targets that could be held at risk.
2. Low-altitude flight is the bigger issue: Fatah-4 is described as a terrain-hugging cruise missile. Flying at low altitude can make detection and interception more difficult than dealing with a conventional high-altitude ballistic trajectory. Pakistan itself has highlighted the missile's ability to evade missile defences through terrain-hugging flight.
3. Accuracy and survivability: The latest test specifically validated subsystems intended to improve accuracy and survivability. Combined with advanced avionics and navigation systems, this suggests Pakistan is working toward a more capable conventional precision-strike weapon rather than simply increasing missile range.
(With inputs from agency)