| Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) | |
|---|---|
| Established: | 31st July 1976 |
| Location: | Kahuta, District Kahuta |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Pakistan |
| Mission: | Objectives and Research: neutron science, energy, high-performance computing, cybernetics, materials science, gas-centrifuge program, nuclear technology, radiation science, laser technology, conventional weapons and military equipment. |
| Nickname | KRL ERL (1976 - 1983) |
| affiliations | Pakistan Armed Forces |
The Khan Research Laboratories,[1], previously known at various times as Project-706, and Engineering Research Laboratories, is a Pakistan Government's multi-program national research institute, managed and operated under the close scrutiny of Pakistan Armed Forces, located in Kahuta, Punjab Province. The laboratories are one of the largest science and technology institutions in Pakistan, and conducts multidisciplinary research and development in fields such as national security, space exploration, and supercomputing.
While the laboratories are remained highly classified, the KRL is most famous in the world for its research, development, and production of Highly-Enriched Uranium (HEU), using gas-centrifuge (Zippe-type) technological methods roughly based on the model of URENCO Group— the technology brought by Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, who worked there as a senior scientist. Since its inception, this institutes employed large sum of technical staff members with majority being physicists and mathematicians, assisted by engineers (both army and civilians), chemists, and material scientists. Professional scientists and engineers are also delegated to visit this institute after going under close and strict screening and background check, to participates as visitors in scientific projects.
During the midst of 1970s, the laboratories were the cornerstone of the first stage of Pakistan' atomic bomb project, being one of the various sites where the classified scientific research on atomic bombs were undertaken.
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During the early stage of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) put its primary effort into developing the plutonium-based nuclear weapons. Following India's surprise nuclear test in 1971 by India — codename Smiling Buddha, the PAEC launched a secret uranium enrichment project, with Sultan Mahmood as its project-director. Work at the Kahuta site was initiated by Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as part of Project-706. In spring of 1976, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan joined the programme and worked under Sultan Mehmood. However, Khan developed serious disagreement with Mehmood, who was focused on to developed the technology ingeniously. After a meeting with Bhutto, Dr. Khan established the facility that later became Engineering Research Laboratories (ERL). Abdul Qadeer Khan disliked the idea of PAEC getting involved in the ERL's work, and instead favoured for Corps of Engineers to lead the programme. Wanting a capable administrator, Bhutto asked the Chief of Army Staff for the selection, and the E-in-C chose Brigadier Zahid Ali Akbar to lead the program.
Because the experiments were deemed too dangerous to conduct in a major city, the operations were moved in a remote mountainous northern areas of Pakistan.[2] Both the facility and its related laboratories, and the nearby city of Kahuta, were built by the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers under command of Lieutenant-General Zahid Ali Akbar.[2] The Military Engineering Service of Pakistan Army also contributed in the construction of the uranium enrichment plant at Kahuta. Conducting a classified research, the facility was heavy secured by both the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).[2] All employees needed badges to pass a checkpoint, and the laboratories are electronically fenced and guarded.[2]
Originally known as Engineering Research Laboratories (ERL), the facility was renamed Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in 1981 by the Military President and Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq in the honor of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. KRL began producing HEU in 1986, and Pakistan's fabrication of weapons may have begun soon thereafter, with highly enriched 6UF being reduced to uranium metal and machined into weapon pits. By the late 1980s, Pakistan was advertising its nuclear capabilities; publishing technical articles on centrifuge design, including a 1987 article co-authored by A. Q. Khan on techniques for balancing sophisticated ultracentrifuge rotors.
According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Chinese technicians were present at Kahuta in the early 1980s, an unconfirmed indicator of Chinese assistance in the development of equipment at Kahuta.[3] The U.S. intelligence community concluded that 5,000 ring magnets supplied by China in 1996 were meant for special suspension bearings mounted at the top of rotating centrifuge cylinders. According to Dr. A. Q. Khan, the Military Government of General Zia ul Haq allowed KRL to led the establishment of HEU programme in the Chinese nuclear program, and provided technical support to China's centrifuge and other classified programs. Khan also alleged that KRL has built a centrifuge plant for China in Hanzhong province.
Alongside the uranium enrichment facilities, KRL includes a Ballistic research laboratories[4] that competes with the PAEC to produce advanced ballistic missiles. While PAEC focuses on solid-fuel rocket designs, KRL produces liquid fuel rockets and motors. KRL's missiles are believed to be based on North Korean technology; exchanges took place in the late 1990s. The following missiles have been produced by KRL:[5]
The KRL performs variety of weapons science and engineering projects for Pakistan Defence Forces. Since 1980s, the KRL is involved in numerous military equipment and conventional weaponry development projects. The resulting systems have been put into service by the Pakistan's military and exported to other friendly nations. The following is a list of known equipment produced under these projects:[4][5]
KRL is said to have entered into an agreement with Malaysian businessman Shah Hakim Zain to export weapons to Malaysia.[6]
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