Pakistan conducts maiden flight test of locally developed Fa'az air-to-air missile

Pakistan has successfully conducted the flight test of its first indigenously developed Fa'az air-to-air missile, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of the country's aerospace and defence capabilities, the military's media wing said on Tuesday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the missile is equipped with a state-of-the-art terminal guidance system and can engage enemy aerial targets at longer ranges. 'Fa'az will significantly enhance the operational flexibility of the Pakistan Air Force, further strengthening the country's overall defence posture,' the statement said. Read : Pakistan Army successfully test-fires extended-range Fatah-2 hypersonic ballistic missile It added that the successful flight test demonstrated the "technical maturity, innovation and self-reliance" achieved by Pakistan's defence industry. The launch was witnessed by senior officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces, along with scientists and engineers who played a key role in developing the weapon system. The president, prime minister, chief of army staff and chief of defence forces, and services chiefs congratulated the scientists and engineers on the achievement. Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the nation on the successful test, describing it as an important development in the defence sector. مقامی طور پر تیار کردہ فعاذ میزائل کا کامیاب تجربہ دفاعی شعبے میں اہم پیش رفت ہے۔ پاکستان کے مایہ ناز سائنسدانوں اور انجینئرز پر ہم سب کو فخر ہے ۔ — Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) November 3, 2026 'Our scientists and engineers have once again achieved a remarkable feat,' he said, adding that the nation was proud of its scientists and engineers. Earlier this month, the Pakistan Army successfully test-fired the extended-range version of its Fatah-2 hypersonic ballistic missile, which was equipped with advanced navigation and state-of-the-art avionics. Also Read : Pakistan test-fires Fatah-4 missile The ISPR had said the missile was capable of engaging targets with high precision and defeating enemy missile defence systems because of its unique trajectory and manoeuvrability. Its extended range would further enhance the army's reach and ability to engage deep targets, it added. A week before that announcement, an extended version of the indigenously developed Fatah-4 ground-launched cruise missile was successfully test-fired . The weapon system was equipped with advanced avionics and state-of-the-art navigational aids and could engage targets at extended ranges with high precision and lethality, the ISPR had said. The test also validated additional technical parameters of various subsystems incorporated to improve accuracy and survivability, it added. In September 2025, the Pakistan Army had conducted a successful training launch of the Fatah-4 at a range of 750 kilometres. The missile was designed to evade enemy missile defence systems through its terrain-hugging capabilities, enabling it to engage targets with high precision.