India intercepts Pakistan’s Fatah-II missile: What is it and how does it compare to Indian missiles?

The Fatah-II system enables precision strike options for Pakistan and reduces its reliance on strategic nuclear weapons for tactical missions. (AFP file photo)

Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up dramatically in the wee hours of Saturday with Islamabad unleashing its Fatah-II missile towards national capital Delhi. This was, however, reportedly intercepted by India’s air defence systems over Haryana’s Sirsa region.

The latest development marks a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours following days of mounting military activity along the border.

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The missile strike came shortly after Pakistan’s military accused India of conducting overnight retaliatory strikes on several key Pakistani military installations - the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, the Rafiqi Air Base in Shorkot, and the Murid Air Base in Chakwal.

According to Pakistani military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, Indian missiles - allegedly BrahMos - and drones also struck targets in Sialkot, Narowal, and even the high-profile Serena Hotel near Islamabad’s Diplomatic Enclave.

According to Indian defence sources, these strikes were carried out in response to a wave of Pakistani drone attacks on Friday night that targeted 26 locations across India, including Army bases and civilian areas.

The tit-for-tat exchanges have pushed the already fraught India-Pakistan relationship to a new brink, raising fears of further military escalation.

Notably, just two days before India’s Operation Sindoor, Islamabad announced the successful training launch of the “Fatah series” surface-to-surface missile with a reported range of 120 km.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani army, this launch was part of its ongoing “Exercise INDUS” military drills.

What is Fatah-II?

The Fatah series is a relatively new addition to Pakistan’s missile arsenal.

While the earlier Fatah-I has a reported range of around 150 km, the more advanced Fatah-II, which Pakistan tested last year, is believed to have a range of up to 400 km and precision-strike capability with a claimed circular error probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters, indicatingmeaning it can hit within 10 meters of its intended target.

Central to Pakistan’s latest strike is the Fatah-II missile, one of its most advanced guided artillery rocket systems.

With a range between 250 and 400 kilometers, the Fatah-II missile can deliver conventional or potentially tactical nuclear payloads. It employs a combination of inertial navigation and satellite guidance systems, allowing for mid-course corrections and an impressive claimed accuracy, with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters.

Standing 7.5 meters long and carrying a 365 kg warhead, the Fatah-II reportedly features a sophisticated navigation system, a unique flight trajectory, and maneuverable capabilities, allowing it to adjust course mid-flight and complicate interception efforts - even against advanced missile defence systems like the Russian-made S-400 Triumf, which India has inducted into its air defence network.

Its flat flight trajectory, in addition, makes it particularly difficult for air defence systems to detect and intercept, though in this instance, Indian defences reportedly succeeded.

The Fatah-II system, often compared to the US HIMARS-launched GMLRS or China’s PHL-series systems, enables precision strike options for Pakistan and reduces its reliance on strategic nuclear weapons for tactical missions.

Understanding Fatah-II's Indian counterparts

Meanwhile, on the Indian side, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a broad suite of tactical and strategic missile systems.

Among these are the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL), providing rapid high-volume fire at ranges up to 75 kilometers; the Pralay short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), with a range of 150–500 kilometers for tactical precision strikes; and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which offers land, sea, and air deployment options at ranges of 290-450 kilometers.

At the heart of India’s nuclear deterrent are the long-range Agni series ballistic missiles, with capabilities extending beyond 5,000 kilometers.

While the Fatah-II’s range and tactical precision place it in the same class as India’s Pralay missile, India’s overall missile ecosystem is far more diversified, providing layered options across both conventional and strategic domains.

Systems like the BrahMos give India an added edge with supersonic precision strikes - a capability that Pakistan claims was used in the latest round of attacks.