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Fatah-1 guided multiple-launch rocket

Fearing India�s defense preparedness, Pakistan is teaming up with China to test new weapons with the Fatah-1 guided multiple-launch rocket system. On 07 January 2021 Pakistan conducted a successful test flight of the "indigenously developed" Fatah-1, Guided Multi Launch Rocket System. President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza and the Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa congratulated the participating troops and scientists on the successful flight test.

According to Director General of Pakistan Army, Media Wing, Major General Babar Iftikhar, Fatah-1 weapon system can hit targets up to a range of 140 km. "The Weapon System will give Pakistan Army capability of precision target engagement deep in enemy territory," said Iftikhar.

Pakistan has not shared any additional information on this rocket system. Therefore, Pakistan�s claim cannot be easily believed. The video shared by the Pakistani military is only 15 seconds in total. The first part appears to be a rocket firing from its launcher. In the second part, a missile is seen falling from a pole at a distance of about 5 to 10 feet. No information was given by the Pakistani army on where this test was carried out.

It is reported that the new weapon is used in a Multiple Rocket Launcher (MRL). As a result it appears to broadly compare to the U.S. Army�s ATACM, though with shorter range. Pakistan�s press reported that the Fatah-1 is indigenously developed and it seems likely that it is an evolutionary off shoot of the Chinese A-100 system that is in service with the Pakistan army. This rocket is produced in Pakistan and has provided the country with useful experience in producing and utilising long-range rocket artillery systems.

The A-100 is broadly based of the Russian BM-30 Smerch system and, though is not used by the Chinese themselves, has subsequently been developed into more advanced variants; the A-200 and A-300. These improved systems � especially the A-200 � certainly appear in reports to match the capability of the Fatah-1 quite closely.

The Weapon System is a Chinese A-300-311 series 2 rocket. Not even a copy as the most of the rocket's sub systems are imported from China. This is just like Pak giving Arabic name 'Barq' to Chinese Ar-1 missile in 2015. The TRG-300 was offered to Pakistan. It has a range of 150 km with guided rockets. TRG 300 is based on Chinese WS 1B MBRL. Turkish offered both variant TRG 122 & TRG 300 to Pakistan.