The Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC) gives Rawalpindi an organizational structure for conventional deep fires. Its credibility will depend on the depth of its magazines, the tempo of production, and the targeting architecture that connects ISR to strikes.
At the same time, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) already operates a scalable strike option through the JF-17 paired with range-extension kits (REKs). These glide-bomb kits (also designated as the AZB) convert Mk-80-series bombs into precision, stand-off munitions at a cost Pakistan can sustain.
This analysis explains “Boots Theory,” assesses ARFC’s role and limitations, evaluates the JF-17’s affordability compared to Western fighters, and examines REK’s capability and cost. It also draws on Ukraine’s use of glide kits for context, explores doctrinal integration between ARFC and JF-17/REK, and outlines Pakistan’s industrial pathway to stockpiling kits at scale.
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That said, two uncertainties limit what any rocket force can guarantee on night one: interception and accuracy. Ukraine’s experience shows that capable, well-served air defences can stop large volumes of cruise missiles – with measured intercept rates frequently reported in the ~70–80% bracket at their peak, though varying over time with inventory and tactics – while ballistic missiles complicate interception but still face attrition and decoys/pen-aids dynamics.
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