Pakistan
Mashhood Test Firing Range (MTFR)
About
The Mashhood Test Firing Range at Tilla Jogian (MTFR) is the primary missile test site of the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL). The KRL used the MTFR to stage the first test flight of the solid-fueled medium-range Hatf-5/Ghauri ballistic missile on 6 April 1998. 1 2 The KRL again used the MTFR for the first test-flight of the longer-range variant Hatf-5A/Ghauri-2 on 14 April 1999. 3 In total, the MTFR has hosted seven test flights of the Hatf-5/Ghauri-1 missile, and one test flight of the Hatf-5A/Ghauri-2 missile at the MTFR. 4
Using satellite images of the MTFR, the Federation of American Scientists notes that even in clear images, it is difficult to discern physical launch facilities at the Jhelum site. 5
Glossary
- Ballistic missile
- A delivery vehicle powered by a liquid or solid fueled rocket that primarily travels in a ballistic (free-fall) trajectory. The flight of a ballistic missile includes three phases: 1) boost phase, where the rocket generates thrust to launch the missile into flight; 2) midcourse phase, where the missile coasts in an arc under the influence of gravity; and 3) terminal phase, in which the missile descends towards its target. Ballistic missiles can be characterized by three key parameters - range, payload, and Circular Error Probable (CEP), or targeting precision. Ballistic missiles are primarily intended for use against ground targets.
Sources
- “Tilla Jogian/Malute [Malot] – Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities,” Federation of American Scientists, accessed 31 January 2011, www.fas.org.
- “Pakistan test-fires long-range missile, says U.S. will understand,” Deutsche Presse-Agentur (Hamburg), 6 April 1998, in LexisNexis Academic Universe, www.lexisnexis.com.
- “Pakistan hits back with Ghauri-II,” Statesman (Calcutta), 14 April 1999; in LexisNexis Academic Universe, www.lexisnexis.com.
- “Missile Flight Tests,” The International Institute for Strategic Studies, accessed 31 January 2011, www.iiss.org.
- “Tilla Jogian/Malute [Malot] – Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities,” Federation of American Scientists, accessed 31 January 2011, www.fas.org.