Pakistan's new Rocket Force Command and Fatah IV Missile : A Strategic Shift

Pakistan announces a new rocket force and unveils Fatah IV. The development is very significant, first from the operational perspective, and second from the doctrine perspective.

Pakistan has officially announced the creation of a new Rocket Force command and the unveiling of the Fatah IV missile, marking a pivotal moment in the country's military evolution. This development is highly significant from both an operational and doctrinal perspective, reshaping the landscape of conventional warfare.

The formation of a dedicated Rocket Force signals a shift in the way military engagements will be structured below the strategic threshold. Traditionally, missiles were confined to the role of strategic deterrence, falling under the domain of Strategic Command. But the new rules of engagement now create space for conventional missile and rocket systems to play a more active role at the tactical level. This move allows for more dynamic, flexible responses in conventional confrontations, significantly altering the calculus of conflict.

One of the primary goals of this new force is to enhance land-based, deep precision-strike capabilities. The newly established command will be tasked with executing rapid, deep-strike operations across multiple axes, ensuring survivability and increasing the scale and speed of Pakistan’s conventional response. These strikes will not only target critical infrastructure but could also disrupt the enemy's logistical and command-and-control structures.

A key component of this Rocket Force command is the development of a homegrown missile arsenal, with the Fatah IV missile being one of the many. The domestically produced missiles, particularly under the FATAH family, create a space for carrying out saturation attacks with a relatively higher rate of fire. With a more diverse missile arsenal, Pakistan will be able to carry out sustained, high-intensity strikes, overwhelming defensive systems. This also boosts the country’s strategic autonomy and reduces dependency on foreign technology.

The creation of the Rocket Force likely signals a change in Pakistan’s military doctrine and strategic posturing. As India shifts toward a more aggressive and forward-looking defence strategy, particularly with its growing focus on "conventional war" strategies below the nuclear threshold, Pakistan's traditional deterrence posture appears increasingly inadequate. The establishment of the Rocket Force and the deployment of precision-guided missiles suggest that Pakistan is recalibrating its approach to warfighting, adapting to the emerging realities of the region.

Pakistan will likely unveil more advanced ballistic and cruise missiles in the near future. These could be assigned specifically to the Rocket Command, further enhancing Pakistan's ability to execute rapid, deep-strike operations with greater precision and effectiveness. These advancements will likely aim to close the gap between the capabilities of Pakistan’s conventional forces and those of its regional rival India.