Mashhood Test Firing Range
{{Short description|Military testing area and firing range in Pakistan}}
{{redirect|Tilla}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name =Mashhood Test Firing Range (1998–99){{cite web |url=http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Missile/3294_3320.html |title=NTI: Country Overviews: Pakistan: Missile Facilities |accessdate=2009-07-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040108164527/http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Missile/3294_3320.html |archivedate=2004-01-08 }}
Tilla Test Firing Range (present)
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| location =Tilla Jogian, Punjab, Pakistan.
| nearest_town = Jhelum, Punjab
| country = {{PAK}}
| image = File:Buchal Kalan salt range.png
| alt = 200px
| caption =Mashhood TFR in Salt Range in Pakistan
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| coordinates ={{coord|33|20|N|73|17|E|type:landmark|display=inline}}
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| controlledby = {{army|PAK}}
| open_to_public = No
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| builder = Corps of Ordnance
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| website = [https://www.nti.org/education-center/facilities/mashhood-test-firing-range-mtfr/ NTI Mashhood TFR]
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Mashhood Test Firing Range (MTFR) at Tilla Jogian is a military testing area and firing range located approximately {{convert|25|km|mi}} west of Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan.{{cite news |last1=Gady |first1=Franz-Stefan |title=Pakistan Tests Ballistic Missile |url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/04/pakistan-tests-ballistic-missile/ |access-date=20 March 2023 |work=thediplomat.com}}{{cite web |title=Pakistan Army |url=http://www.astronautix.com/p/pakistanarmy.html |website=www.astronautix.com}}
It was used by the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) as a primary testbed for initial phase of its Ghauri program and now serves as the primary weapon test site for the Pakistan Army.{{cite web |url=http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Missile/3294_3320.html |title=NTI: Country Overviews: Pakistan: Missile Facilities |accessdate=2009-07-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040108164527/http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Missile/3294_3320.html |archivedate=2004-01-08 }}
Location
Tilla is an eastward continuation of the Salt Range in Jhelum District, Punjab, Pakistan, 3,242 feet above the sea. From the Bunha torrent the range rises rapidly to the culminating peak of Tilla Jogian and thence sinks as rapidly, but a series of low parallel ridges runs out across the valley of the Kahan. During British Rule, the hill was sometimes used as a summer resort by officers of Jhelum District. A famous monastery of Jogi fakirs is situated here.[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V23_366.gif Tilla - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 23, p. 360]
Current operations
The test range is known as Tilla Test Firing Range according to Pakistan Army sources.{{cite news |title=Pakistan Army Test-Fires Indigenous Anti-Tank Guided Missile |url=https://www.army-technology.com/news/news104316-html/ |access-date=20 March 2023}} Pakistan Army conducts exercises at the Tilla Firing Range to check the performance of its unmanned tactical systems, missiles and range recovery operations.{{cite news |title=Pakistani Army conducts training launch of Ghauri ballistic missile |url=https://www.army-technology.com/uncategorized/newspakistani-army-conducts-training-launch-of-ghauri-ballistic-missile-4555176/ |access-date=20 March 2023 |work=Army Technology |date=15 April 2015}}{{cite web |title=Tilla |url=http://www.astronautix.com/t/tilla.html |website=www.astronautix.com |access-date=20 March 2023}}
In 1998–99, the Test Firing Range served as a testbed for the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) during the development of the Ghauri program.{{cite web |title=Tilla Jogian / Malute [Malot] - Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities |url=https://nuke.fas.org/guide/pakistan/facility/malute.htm |website=nuke.fas.org |access-date=20 March 2023}} Other operations included Pakistan Air Force's range practice with the Pakistan Army, and subsequent missile testing by ASFC.{{cite web |title=Tilla |url=http://www.astronautix.com/t/tilla.html |website=www.astronautix.com}}{{cite news |title=Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Army conduct Joint Field Firing Exercise at Tilla Ranges - video Dailymotion |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x328r6s |work=Dailymotion |date=19 August 2015 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=PKAFSC |url=http://www.astronautix.com/p/pkafsc.html |website=www.astronautix.com}}
References
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{{Pakistan Army template}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=January 2014}}
Category:Rocket launch sites in Pakistan