SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a desperate bid to salvage its reputation following unsuccessful attempts to target Indian Air Force (IAF) airbases during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, the Pakistan Army launched a provocative missile offensive aimed at civilian areas in India. According to sources cited by idrw.org, Pakistan fired its advanced Fatah-II guided rocket toward New Delhi, intending to demonstrate its ability to strike major Indian cities.
However, the missile was intercepted over Sirsa, Haryana, by India’s multi-layered air defence systems. Additionally, an older Hatf-I short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) aimed at another Indian border city was neutralized by the indigenous Akash missile system. These failures underscore the effectiveness of India’s tri-service air defence network and expose the limitations of Pakistan’s missile capabilities.
The Fatah-II, a guided artillery rocket system developed by Pakistan’s National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), boasts a range of 400–450km and a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters, designed for precision strikes against high-value targets. Launched on May 10, 2025, as part of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos, the Fatah-II was aimed at New Delhi, with trajectory calculations indicating an intent to strike or fall near civilian areas rather than military targets. This provocative move was meant to send a message to New Delhi that Pakistan could target India’s major cities at will, compensating for its inability to hit IAF bases like Ambala, Adampur, or Hindon during Operation Sindoor.
Indian radar systems, including the Rajendra and Swordfish, detected the Fatah-II shortly after launch, and the missile was intercepted mid-air over Sirsa, approximately 250km from Delhi, by the Barak-8 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system, jointly developed by India and Israel. Locals reported a bright explosion in the sky around midnight, with debris found near a church and surrounding fields, confirming the successful interception. The Fatah-II’s flat trajectory and advanced guidance, combining inertial navigation and satellite-based GPS/GLONASS, were designed to evade air defences, but India’s integrated air defence grid, comprising the S-400 Triumf, Akash-NG, and Barak-8, neutralized the threat before it could reach its intended target.
The interception exposed Pakistan’s exaggerated claims about the Fatah-II’s “uninterceptable” nature, as touted by analysts like Umair Aslam of Global Defense Insight. Posts on X further highlighted the missile’s underperformance, with users noting that its reliance on Chinese technological assistance did not translate into operational success against India’s sophisticated defences. The failed strike on New Delhi, intended as a symbolic show of strength, instead underscored Pakistan’s strategic miscalculation and the vulnerability of its missile systems.
In addition to the Fatah-II, the Pakistan Army fired the older Hatf-I SRBM, also known as Hataf-1, toward an unspecified Indian border city, likely Amritsar or Pathankot, given its limited 100km range. Developed in the late 1980s by Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) with alleged Chinese assistance, the Hatf-I is a single-stage, solid-fuel missile with a 500kg payload, typically carrying high-explosive or cluster munitions. The Hatf-IB variant, equipped with inertial guidance, offers a CEP of 150–200 meters, but its predictable ballistic trajectory makes it susceptible to modern air defence systems.
The Hatf-I was intercepted by the Indian Army’s Akash Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SRSAM) system, which has a 25km range and can engage targets at speeds up to Mach 2.5. Cued by the Rajendra radar, the Akash system neutralized the missile, preventing any damage to civilian or military infrastructure. The Indian Army showcased the Hatf-I’s debris on May 19, 2025, alongside fragments of Chinese-made A-100 MLRS rockets and PL-15 air-to-air missiles, highlighting the effectiveness of its air defence network.
Pakistan’s missile launches were part of Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos, a response to India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and PoK on May 7, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Pakistan’s failure to hit IAF airbases, coupled with the loss of at least six fighter jets, two surveillance aircraft, and multiple drones, prompted its shift to missile strikes on civilian areas. The Fatah-II’s targeting of New Delhi and the Hatf-I’s launch toward a border city reflect a reckless escalation, aimed at projecting capability despite operational setbacks.
India’s tri-service air defence network, integrating the S-400, Barak-8, Akash, and DRDO’s anti-drone systems, proved its mettle in countering these threats. The Barak-8’s interception of the Fatah-II over Sirsa, supported by the S-400’s long-range tracking, demonstrated India’s ability to neutralize hypersonic and guided rockets. The Akash system’s success against the Hatf-I further validated its role in protecting border regions, with its mobility and rapid response capabilities ensuring no civilian casualties. The Indian Ministry of Defence condemned Pakistan’s actions, noting that the drone and missile attacks targeted 26 locations across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, with a drone strike in Ferozepur injuring a civilian family.
The failed missile strikes highlight the technological and strategic gap between India and Pakistan. The Fatah-II, despite its advanced guidance and flat trajectory, was no match for India’s multi-layered air defence grid, which seamlessly integrated indigenous and foreign systems. The Hatf-I’s interception by the Akash system further exposed the obsolescence of Pakistan’s older missile arsenal, designed in the 1980s with limited precision. Pakistan’s attempt to project power by targeting civilian areas backfired, reinforcing India’s defensive superiority and drawing international criticism for escalating tensions.
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