Pakistan's military said it tested the Fa'az air-to-air missile, presenting the program as a way to expand the air force's options and reduce reliance on foreign weapons.
The army described Fa'az as the country's first domestically developed air-to-air missile. It said terminal guidance is meant to help the weapon locate hostile aerial targets and engage them over long distances.
The military framed the test as part of a push for defense self-reliance and domestic aerospace development. It said the system could support Pakistan's air operations in defensive and offensive roles while improving the Pakistan Air Force's combat capabilities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and President Asif Ali Zardari sent congratulations to the nation and teams involved, the army said.
