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Sonmiani Flight Test Range

Sonmiani Flight Test Range location in Pakistan
Agency overview
Formed	1961
Headquarters	Sonmiani, Balochistan, Pakistan 25°12′N 66°45′E / 25.200°N 66.750°E / 25.200; 66.750
Parent agency	Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO)
Website	NTI Sonmani FTR
Map
Sonmani Flight Test Range though its accuracy is questionable.

The Flight Test Range (FTR) at Sonmiani Beach is a rocket launch site in Balochistan, approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

The facility is operated by the Space Research Commission since 1961, initially focusing on supporting civilian space program involving the launch of sounding rockets but its present mission has now been moved towards military programs.

History

Initially established at Sonmiani Rocket Range in 1961, the Sonmiani Flight Test Range is the only rocket launch facility operated by the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission. It was the crucial contribution from the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that established the facility in 1961 with Suparco launching the Rehbar-I program that consisted of a Nike-Cajun combination on 7 June 1962.

In 1989, the Sonmiani FTR mission was moved from supporting the civilian space program towards supporting the military program when Hatf-I (lit. Target) was launched from the facility. Since 1990, the Sonmiani FTR has been expanded and modernized that now includes the several rocket launch sites, a rocket assembly and a maintenance workshop; a payload assembly area; high-speed tracking radars with a control room and telemetry station; flight communications equipment and optical cameras. It is currently spread across 200 hectares (490 acres) and located approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Karachi.

The Sonmani FTR, not a space center, now serves as a primary launch site for Pakistani military's missile testing program, namely launching the Hatf program (Target), including four tests of Hatf-II, two of Hatf-III, seven of Hatf-IV and five of Hatf-VI.

See also

• Mashhood Test Firing Range

References

1. ^ "Sonmiani". www.astronautix.com.
2. ^ Dinshaw, Mistry, Containing Missile Proliferation: Strategic Technology, Security Regimes, and International Cooperation in Arms Control (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2003), p. 118
3. ^ "Sonmiani Flight Test Range". Retrieved 19 March 2023.
4. ^ "Histroy [sic]". suparco.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
5. Nair, Kiran Krishan (2006). Space: The Frontiers of Modern Defence. KnowledgeWorld . ISBN 978-81-87966-44-9. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
6. "Sonmiani - Pakistan Special Weapons Delivery Systems". nuke.fas.org.
7. “Missile Flight Tests,” The International Institute for Strategic Studies, 31 January 2011, www.iiss.org.
8. “Missile Flight Tests,” The International Institute for Strategic Studies, 31 January 2011, www.iiss.org.
9. "PKAFSC". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 20 March 2023.

External links

• SUPARCO official website
• Astronautix.com page on Sonmiani

v t e Pakistani Space Program
Organizations	Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) Institute of Space Technology (IST) Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (ISPA) National Centre for Remote Sensing and Geo-informatics (NCRG)
Space centres	Satellite Ground Station
Satellites	Earth observation PRSS-1 PakTES-1A Communication Paksat-1R Paksat-MM1R IST missions ICUBE-Q Retired Badr Badr-1 Badr-B Paksat-1 Paksat-MM1 ICube-1
Space missions	Lunar prediction program SUPARCO rocket tests
Launch vehicles	Rehbar program
Space observatories	University Observatory (University of Karachi) Astronomical Observatory (University of the Punjab)
Spaceports	Sonmiani Flight Test Rage
People	Abdus Salam Ishrat Hussain Usmani Abdul Majid Abdul Qadeer Khan Wladyslaw Turowicz Salim Mehmud Ghulam Murtaza
History and policy	Space Vision 2040 ECSRC Spin-off technologies

v t e  Pakistan Air Force
Leadership	Commander-in-Chief President of Pakistan Chief Executive Prime Minister of Pakistan Parliament Senate Committee on Defence National Assembly Committee on Defence Cabinet Committee on National Security Ministers Defence Secretary Defence Production Air Headquarters Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chief of Air Staff Vice Chief Deputy Chiefs Serving Marshals
Commands	Air Force Strategic Command Air Intelligence Special Services Wing Squadrons Aircraft Air Defence
Education and training	Air University Air University Multan Campus Fazaia Medical College Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College Air Force Academy Airmen Academy Air War College College of Aeronautical Engineering College of Flying Training Air Force Schools and Colleges System Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology Combat Commanders' School
Bases	Flying Bases PAF Academy Nur Khan Chandhar Faisal Masroor Alam Minhas Murid Mushaf Peshawar Rafiqui Samungli Shahbaz Non-flying Bases Kalabagh Kohat Korangi-Creek Lahore Lower Topa Malir Sakesar Badaber Centers and depots Air Force centers and depots
Military history	Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts 1965 1971
Organizations	Pakistan Air Force Museum Shaheen Foundation
Hospitals	Pakistan Air Force Hospitals
Test Ranges	Sonmiani Test Range Shamsi Kirana Test Range
Personnel and equipment	Ranks and insignia Active aircraft Retired aircraft Equipment
Pakistan Air Force

• Science and technology in Pakistan
• Space programme of Pakistan
• Rocket launch sites in Pakistan
• SUPARCO facilities
• 1962 establishments in Pakistan
• Military installations in Balochistan, Pakistan
• Installations of the Pakistan Air Force
• Sonmiani Bay