Pakistan has announced the formation of a new ‘Army Rocket Force Command’ following the successful use of rockets and missiles in recent clashes with India.
Experts have described the force, modelled after the Chinese system, as crucial for emergency situations.
For decades, only the air force had the capability to conduct precision strikes across the border, but now the Pakistan Army is changing the situation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the new force while addressing the Independence Day ceremony.
He said this force will be equipped with modern technology“.
Later, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office stated that the Rocket Force would prove to be a milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s combat capabilities.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not provide further details.
However, Dr Rabia Akhtar, one of the leading experts on nuclear power policies in Pakistan, explained that this force will close the gap in decision-making between small artillery weapons and large nuclear missile systems.
According to Dr Rabia, “Fatah IV” is a surface-to-surface missile and can hit targets at a distance of more than 750 kilometres.
She stated that this is Pakistan’s first conventional (non-nuclear) system capable of long-range strikes.
Talking about the Army Rocket Force Command, Dr Rabia said, “this force will operate independently. It will close the gap in firing small artillery weapons and large nuclear missiles.”
In other words, separate permissions will no longer be required to launch different types of rockets and missiles.
In simple terms, the Pakistan Army Rocket Force Command will be able to make decisions on the use of conventional missiles (cruise and ballistic, subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic), as well as medium and long-range rockets.
Thus, this command enables the Pakistan Army to strike enemy targets more powerfully and accurately.
Dr Rabia said, “Pakistan will now be able to conduct long-range, accurate, non-nuclear strikes into enemy territory, while reserving nuclear weapons only for deterrence.”
She further explained that previously these rocket systems were operated separately from different locations, but now they have been brought under a single command, just like China’s force.
She noted that this would improve Pakistan’s capability to target key enemy installations and military centres, making it more difficult for India to plan an attack, while also strengthening Pakistan’s conventional (non-nuclear) military power.
But do only China and Pakistan have such rocket force commands?
With this centralised control, Pakistan can use long-range missiles and rockets to weaken India’s air defences, air bases, and command centres.
But are China and Pakistan the only ones with this type of command force? No, Iran, India, North Korea, and Russia also have Army Rocket Force Commands, though under other names.
The Fateh IV cruise missile, with a range of 750 kilometres, and A-100 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)are likely to be the central components of the Pakistan Army Rocket Force Command, providing the capability to strike targets deep into India.
How powerful is the new Fatah-4 cruise missile?
The Pakistan Army unveiled the Fateh IV cruise missile on August 14. Previously, it was believed that the Fateh IV would be a long-range guided rocket or ballistic missile, as all earlier Fateh missiles had been guided rockets.
But now it appears that the Pakistan Army is relying on ground-launched cruise missiles to enhance its long-range precision strike capabilities.
The 1530kg Fateh-4 has a range of 750 kilometres. Its length is 7.5 metres, a speed of Mach 0.7, and an accuracy range of 5 metres. It is capable of flying at an altitude of at least 50 metres.
The Fateh-4 is capable of carrying an explosive payload of up to 330 kilograms.
What is the need for the new Army Rocket Force Command?
The Army Rocket Force Command will provide the Pakistan Army with an effective platform through which it can challenge Indian air power (while the Pakistan Air Force confronts the Indian Air Force in the skies).
Thus, the Pakistan Army’s ground-based launchers can become a real threat to India’s remote air bases and air defences.
To understand the formation of the Army Rocket Force Command, one must understand the organisational structure of the army.
According to the Eurasian Times, the force will likely operate under the Pakistan Army and parallel to the Army Strategic Forces Command, which handles nuclear weapons under the Strategic Plans Division.
This separate arrangement will ensure that the Army Rocket Force Command focuses only on conventional military operations, keeping nuclear weapons under a different command.
The Pakistan Army is structured around corps and is headed by the Chief of Army Staff. The Army Rocket Force Command will likely be a new corps-level command, possibly led by a lieutenant general, who reports directly to the army chief.
The organisation of the Army Rocket Force Command is inspired by China’s Rocket Force Model (PLARF), which includes specialised training, strategy, and logistics.
Administratively, it may fall under the Strategic Plans Division, but operationally, it will remain independent.
This chain of command will simplify administrative operations. It will facilitate orders from the Army Chief to the Army Rocket Force Commander, and then to field units, allowing for quicker decision-making compared to the previous artillery model.
