The Pakistan Army is bolstering its long-range strike capabilities with the Fatah-3, a supersonic cruise missile believed to be derived from China’s HD-1 missile family.
The missile can reportedly reach speeds between Mach 2.5 (3,100 kilometers/1,900 miles per hour) and Mach 4 (4,900 kilometers/ 3,000 miles per hour).
Powered by an integrated ramjet propulsion system and a solid-fuel launch booster, the Fatah-3 is estimated to have a range of 290 to 450 kilometers (180 to 279 miles).
It can be deployed from a mobile launcher with two missile canisters, allowing crews to reposition quickly before and after firing while reducing vulnerability to counterstrikes.
Designed for both land-attack and maritime strike missions, the weapon uses low-altitude flight profiles that keep it close to terrain and sea surfaces to reduce detection.
The missile was recently showcased by the Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC) during a display of domestically developed military systems.
The Fatah Series
The Fatah-3 is part of Pakistan’s previously unveiled Fatah missile family, developed to engage high-value military targets across multiple domains.
At the base of the series is the Fatah-I guided long-range rocket, with a reported range of around 140 kilometers (87 miles) and employs 300mm precision-guided rockets.
The Fatah-II quasi-ballistic missile extends the range to roughly 400 kilometers (249 miles), depending on payload configuration.
Wrapping up the lineup is the Fatah-IV subsonic cruise missile, with a range of up to 750 kilometers (466 miles) and terrain-hugging flight capability designed to improve survivability against air defenses.
