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Army Rocket Force Command
Missile command of Pakistan Army From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC) is a command of the Pakistan Army tasked with controlling and operating conventional rockets and missiles, including cruise, ballistic, and future hypersonic missiles.[2][3] Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the ARFC's formation on 13 August 2025, one month after the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict in May.[4][5]
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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 a month after the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict.[6][7]
Fatah 4 missile test
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 4 surface-to-surface cruise missile, which has a range of 750 km.[8] It was the first missile test carried out since the formation of the ARFC, and the ISPR said that the indigenously-developed Fatah 4 would operate "as part of Army Rocket Force Command."[4]
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Overview
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 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.[6][7] The new formation is tasked to unify, modernise, and supercharge the Pakistani missile and rocket forces.[9] Analyst Naeem Salik said the ARFC will be overseen by the army’s General Headquarters (GHQ).[3]
Government statements described the new command as intended to supervise the handling and deployment of missiles during a conventional war.[6] Defence analyst Talat Masood said the move was part of a process to further strengthen Pakistan's military capability in the wake of the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict.[7]
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Organisation
The establishment of the Army Rocket Force Command consolidates conventional and rocket units from several formations and specialist detachments into a single operational command, mirroring the Army Strategic Forces Command.[9] The ARFC is expected to be led by a three-star general.[3] Saalik said the force currently includes the Fatah-1 and Fatah-2 rockets.
Conflict with India
The creation of the command follows a period of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India in the aftermath of the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict.[6][7] It is also believed to be aimed primarily at countering Pakistan's arch-rival, India, and was created to implement lessons learned from the May conflict by filling gaps and shortages in Pakistan's missile capabilities.[2]
See also
References
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