Rawalpindi, 14 October (H.S.): Pakistan’s military has claimed to have successfully tested the extended-range (ER) version of its Fatah-2 missile system. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, the test was conducted on Tuesday to demonstrate the system’s ability to engage targets at greater distances with improved accuracy.

International Pakistani media outlets Geo News and Dunya News, citing the ISPR, reported that the Fatah-2 ER missile system is equipped with advanced navigation technology and state-of-the-art avionics. The military claims that its improved accuracy and ability to alter its flight path could make the system more effective against enemy missile defence systems.

According to the Pakistani military, the extended-range version of the Fatah-2 is expected to enhance the armed forces’ capability to strike targets located at greater distances. Its advanced technology and improved control systems have been described as important features for conducting precision strikes.

However, the ISPR has not disclosed detailed information about the actual distance covered during the test, the missile’s maximum range, its speed or other technical capabilities. The statement also did not specify when the missile system would be fully inducted into military service.

The test was attended by the commander of the Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC), senior Pakistan Army officers, and scientists and engineers involved in the development of the missile system.

According to the ISPR, following the successful test, the ARFC commander praised the dedication and technical expertise of the scientists and engineers involved in developing the weapons system.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and the chiefs of the country’s three armed services also congratulated the scientists and engineers on the successful test.

The Fatah-2 ER test comes at a time when Pakistan has also been advancing its domestic missile development programme. On October 6, the country announced the successful test of an extended-range version of its indigenously developed Fatah-4 ground-launched cruise missile, which was reported to have a range exceeding 750 kilometres.

According to the ISPR, the Fatah-4 is also equipped with advanced avionics and modern navigation technology. The missile has been developed to engage targets at long distances with precision.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar