Subordinate To: Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO)
Address: C/O SUPARCO Headquarters
Sector 28, Off University Road
Gulzar-e-Hijri
P.O. Box 8402
Karachi-75270, Pakistan
Telephone: Unlisted
Fax: Unlisted
Email: Unlisted
URL: http://www.suparco.gov.pk/ftr.html
Primary Function: The Flight Test Range (FTR) at Sonmiani Beach is SUPARCO's primary rocket launch facility. It is also used by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission's (PAEC)-controlled National Defence Complex (NDC) to flight-test solid-fueled ballistic missiles.

Description and Activities:
The 200-hectare FTR at Sonmiani beach, located 50km NW of the port city of Karachi, is one of SUPARCO'S oldest facilities. It was built in the early 1960s for launching scientific payloads on sounding rockets. The FTR was expanded and modernized in the 1990s and its facilities include rocket launchers, rocket assembly workshop, payload assembly area, high-speed tracking radars, control room, telemetry station, flight communications equipment, optical cameras, and maintenance workshop.

Although the FTR is primarily used for launching sounding rockets for Pakistan's civilian space program, it has also been used to flight-test the short- and medium-range Hatf-III/Ghaznavi (M-11) and Hatf IV/Shaheen-I (possibly M-9) solid-fueled ballistic missiles. A Hatf-III was reportedly tested from the Sonmiani beach area in July 1997 followed by the test of the Shaheen-I in April 1999. Both classes of missiles are being developed by the PAEC-controlled NDC.

Key Sources: "Flight Test Range, Sonmiani Beach," Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission Website, <http://www.suparco.gov.pk/ftr.html>; Amit Barua, "Pak test-fires two missiles," Hindu (Chennai), 24 July 1997, p. 1 ; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 24 July 1997, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>; "Government Confirms Test-Firing of New Missile," Agence France Presse, 3 July 1997; in FBIS Document FTS19970703000413, 3 July 1997; Celia W. Dugger, "Pakistan Tests New Missiles, Matching India in the Arms Race," New York Times, 15 April 1999, p. 9; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 15 April 1999, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>; "Pakistan Tests Nuclear-Capable Missiles," New York Times, 16 April 1999, p. 4; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 16 April 1999, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>; Paul Proctor, "Pakistan's Space Agency Building Second Experimental Satellite," Aviation Week & Space Technology, 10 August 1992, Vol. 137, No. 6, p. 46, Competition in Pakistan Skies; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 2 September 1992, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

	Updated December 2003