Pakistan tests Fatah and Abdali missiles at the height of Pahalgam crisis
Pakistan, May 7, 2025 – At the time of writing, it was already clear that “it will come out too late”, we will see how the conflict between nuclear powers develops.
India’s reaction to the Fatah missile test suggested that the show of force had failed. For example, the Indian news website news18.com (or CNN-news18) published an article titled “Weak, a show of force for citizens”: Pakistani claims about the FATAH missile exposed. The article says that this is Pakistani posturing and that the Fatah missile can be shot down by Russian S-400 air defense systems and jammed by the Indian Samyukta electronic warfare system.
Pakistan’s Fatah Missile Test:
The Pakistani military, which on Monday boasted of a “successful practice launch of a FATAH series surface-to-surface missile,” is misleading its citizens by claiming that it is one of the most powerful missiles its military-industrial complex has produced.
Indian government sources told CNN-News18 that the FATAH missile is a “weak missile.” “Pakistan is launching another weak missile and misleading the world and its own people,” the sources said.
The article also said that the Fatah missile has a range of 120 kilometers, which limits its effectiveness, and that its navigation system could be susceptible to jamming or spoofing. It also said that India’s S-400 air defense systems, purchased from Russia and deployed along the border, could intercept such missiles and reduce their impact on the battlefield.
“The missile’s GPS and INS guidance system may be open to electronic warfare tactics such as jamming or spoofing by Indian Samyukta EW systems,” the sources said, adding that since it does not have MaRV (maneuverable warhead) technology, it is also not controllable, making the Fatah missile easier to track and intercept.
“Pakistan’s missile program depends on Chinese components such as rocket motors, guidance systems. Sanctions or disruption of the supply chain could completely cripple production,” Indian sources said.
It should be added to the information from news18.com that the Fatah I is more of an artillery rocket launcher with guided ammunition and a range that Pakistani sources put at 140 km. The next model, the Fatah II, has a range of 400 km, according to some information.
Before testing the Fatah missile, Pakistan also tested the Abdali missile, also known as Hatf-II. In this case, it is a real tactical ballistic missile with a range of allegedly 450 km. Its test was taken as a provocation by India, and Pakistan presented it as part of the ongoing Indus exercise.
The Abdali missile test preceded the Fatah test:
Literally in the last moments before the Indian missiles hit, the Pakistani media informed the population about the increase in the capabilities of the air force after the JF-17 Block III fighters received a shipment of modern Chinese PL-15 missiles. This is an air-to-air anti-aircraft missile designed for combat beyond the line of sight and a range of 145 km (export version), or 200-300 km in the version for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
Information about the new PL-15E missiles with folding aerodynamic surfaces, which are designed for internal landing gear of fifth-generation fighters:
Once again, let’s see how it turns out. From today’s perspective, it seems as if the Kargil War (1999) did not take place in another millennium (1999), but on another planet.
Martin Scholz
