- Sonmiani
Sonmiani is a coastal town in the southeast of Balochistan province in
Pakistan , approximately 45 kilometres northwest ofKarachi . The town also serves as a Union Council ofHub Tehsil . [ [http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=81&dn=Lasbella Tehsils & Unions in the District of Lasbella - Government of Pakistan] ] The area hosts a 2 square kilometre flight test range for sounding rockets at coord|25|12|N|66|45|E|display=inline,title that has been operated since 1962 by theSpace and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). It is also used by thePakistan Atomic Energy Commission 's National Defence Complex to test solid-fueledballistic missiles such as the short- and medium-rangeHatf -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.
References
External links
* [http://www.suparco.gov.pk/ftr.html SUPARCO official website]
* [http://www.astronautix.com/sites/sonmiani.htm Astronautix.com page on Sonmiani]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/pakistan/sonmiani.htm GlobalSecurity.com page on Sonmiani]
* [http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Missile/3294_3333.html Nuclear Threat Initiative's page on Sonmiani]
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