Sonmiani
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Sonmiani is a coastal town in the southeast of Balochistan province in Pakistan, approximately 45 kilometres northwest of Karachi. The area hosts a 2 square kilometre flight test range for sounding rockets at that has been operated since 1962 by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). It is also used by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission's National Defence Complex to test solid-fueled ballistic missiles such as the short- and medium-range Hatf-III/Ghaznavi (M-11) and Hatf IV/Shaheen-I (possibly M-9) missiles.
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.
[edit] External links
- SUPARCO official website
- Astronautix.com page on Sonmiani
- GlobalSecurity.com page on Sonmiani
- Nuclear Threat Initiative's page on Sonmiani
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