October 8, Kathmandu – Pakistan has successfully tested a new version of its long-range ground-launched cruise missile, the ‘Fatah-4’. This upgraded variant is named ‘Fatah-4 ER.’ According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the new missile incorporates advanced technologies for flight and targeting. While Pakistan has not publicly disclosed the actual striking range of the upgraded missile, defense analyst Bilal Hussain Khan estimates its range could exceed 1,000 kilometers. He suggests that the Fatah-4 ER might achieve a range between 1,200 and 1,500 kilometers. Previously, the Fatah-4 missile’s range was reported to be approximately 750 kilometers.
A notable feature of the Fatah-4 missile is its ability to fly at very low altitudes, roughly 50 meters above the ground. Retired Pakistan Air Force Air Commodore Owais Khan emphasizes that this low-altitude flight capability helps the missile avoid detection by enemy radar systems, allowing it to advance stealthily towards its target. Typically, cruise missiles fly close to the terrain’s surface, making them harder to detect compared to ballistic missiles, which ascend to higher altitudes. The missile’s navigation system is designed to function even under electronic jamming conditions, enhancing its operational reliability.
The Fatah-4 ER is a subsonic cruise missile, traveling at speeds below the speed of sound. According to Air Commodore Owais Khan, its speed is about Mach 0.7, approximately 864 kilometers per hour. It is claimed to carry a conventional payload weighing up to 330 kilograms. Visual analysis of publicly released footage suggests that the Fatah-4 ER is larger than its predecessor, according to defense expert Bilal Hussain Khan.
Modifications have also been made to the missile’s wing structure, which reportedly streamlines production and reduces costs. However, since Pakistan has not officially confirmed the exact range and capabilities of the new variant, these claims remain unverified independently. Pakistan has progressively developed the Fatah missile series over recent years, starting with the Fatah-1 tested in 2021 with a range of around 140 kilometers. The Fatah-2 was inducted into the military in 2024 with an estimated range of approximately 400 kilometers.
The Fatah-4 has been developed for different operational roles compared to earlier versions, intended to strike strategic and military ground targets at longer distances. Why is the Fatah-4 significant? Defense experts highlight that a cruise missile’s primary advantage lies in its low-altitude flight and high precision targeting capabilities. Mansur Ahmad, a defense and strategy professor at Australia’s National University, identifies the Fatah series as a crucial component of Pakistan’s long-range rocket artillery system.
Both India and Pakistan have accelerated their development and testing of long-range missiles and drone systems in recent years. Each country also possesses supersonic cruise missile capabilities. Pakistan’s Fatah series showcases an emphasis on extending range and improving accuracy in conventional weapons systems. Nonetheless, due to the absence of official disclosures about the missile’s true range and technical specifications, these claims currently cannot be independently verified.
