The Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC) is a command of the Pakistan Army tasked with controlling and operating conventional rockets and missiles (including cruise missiles) as well as multi-rocket launchers in order to enhance non-nuclear high-precision deep-strike capabilities.
History Formation On 13 August 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the formation of the Army Rocket Force Command during a ceremony at Jinnah Sports Stadium in Islamabad, held a day ahead of Pakistan's 78th Independence Day and three months after the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict.
The ARFC has been tasked with controlling and operating conventional rockets and missiles and will primarily control short-to-medium range conventional missiles. According to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the force will be equipped with modern technology and capable of targeting the enemy "from every direction." He described it as "another milestone" in strengthening Pakistan's conventional war capabilities. The new formation is tasked to unify, modernize, and supercharge the Pakistani missile and rocket forces.
The establishment of the Army Rocket Force Command consolidates conventional and rocket units from several formations and specialist detachments into a single operational command give Pakistan Army deep-strike capabilities without relying on nuclear capable missiles under Army Strategic Forces Command. The ARFC will be overseen by the army's General Headquarters (GHQ), expected to be led by a three-star general.
Missile tests On 30 September 2025, the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) media wing announced that it conducted a successful test of the Fatah-IV surface-to-surface cruise missile, which has a range of 750 km. It was the first missile test carried out since the formation of the Army Rocket Force Command, and the ISPR said that the indigenously developed Fatah-IV would operate as part of ARFC.
On 28 April 2026, the Army Rocket Force Command carried out a successful "training launch" of the Fatah-II multiple launch rocket system (MLRS).
On 7 May 2026, Fatah-III supersonic cruise missile unveiled by Pakistan Military media wing ISPR during a press briefing on the first anniversary of Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos.
On 14 May 2026, the Army Rocket Force Command conducted the second successful test-fire of the indigenously developed Fatah-IV ground-launched cruise missile, which has a range of 750 km.
On 6 October 2026, the Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC) conducted a successful test launch of an extended-range variant of the Fatah-IV ground-launched cruise missile, designated as the Fatah-IV-ER, defense analysts estimate the extended variant's operational range exceeds 1000 km.
Equipment Primary weapons +List of rockets & missiles currently operational with ARFCNameImageOriginTypeSpeedOperational RangeWarheadBarrelsNotesFatah-IPakistanGuided MLRSSubsonic70 – 140 kmConventional8Fatah-IIPakistanQuasi-Tactical Ballistic MissileSubsonic290 – 450 kmConventional2Fatah-IIE (export) – 290 km range Fatah-II – 400 km range Fatah-II ER – 450 km rangeFatah-IIIPakistanCruise MissileSupersonic300 – 650 kmConventionalUnknownBased on Chinese HD-1Fatah-IVPakistanCruise MissileSubsonic750 – 1000 kmConventional3Fatah-IV-ER – more than 1000 km rangeFatah-VPakistanUnknownUnknown1000 km (expected)ConventionalUnknownTo be tested
Secondary weapons +List of rockets & missiles expected to likely be in service of the ARFCNameImageOriginTypeSpeedOperational RangeWarheadBarrelsNotesKRL-122 “Ghazab”PakistanMLRS40 kmConventional40122 mm MLRS. Based on the Soviet BM-21 Grad. The system can launch POF built Yarmuk rocket and is locally designated as the "Ghazab".Azar MLRSChina-PakistanMLRS40 kmConventional40122 mm MLRS. Based on the Chinese Type 81 variant of the BM-21 Grad. The system is built locally and designated as the "Azar".A-100EChina-PakistanSemi-guided MLRS100 kmConventional10300mm MLRS which is built locally on license. The system can launch CALT-built rocket having maximum range of 120 km.
See also Pakistan Army Pakistan Army Artillery Regiment Corps Pakistan Army Air Defence Corps Army Air Defence Command (Pakistan) Air Defence Command (Pakistan) Strategic Plans Division Force India–Pakistan relations People's Liberation Army Rocket Force Integrated Rocket Force (India)
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