Mashhood Test Firing Range

"Tilla" redirects here. For other uses, see Tilla (disambiguation).

Mashhood Test Firing Range (MTFR) at Tilla Jogian is a military testing area and firing range located approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan.^[2][3]

Mashhood Test Firing Range (1998–99)[1] Tilla Test Firing Range (present)[2]
Tilla Jogian, Punjab, Pakistan. Near Jhelum, Punjab in  Pakistan
Mashhood TFR in Salt Range in Pakistan
Coordinates	33°20′N 73°17′E
Site information
Controlled by	Pakistan Army
Open to the public	No
Website	NTI Mashhood TFR
Site history
Built by	Corps of Ordnance

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Current operations

The test range is known as Tilla Test Firing Range according to Pakistan Army sources.^[6][2] Pakistan Army conducts exercises at the Tilla Firing Range to check the performance of its unmanned tactical systems, missiles and range recovery operations.^[7][8]

In 1998–99, the Test Firing Range served as a testbed for the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) during the development of the Ghauri program.^[9] Other operations included Pakistan Air Force's range practice with the Pakistan Army, and subsequent missile testing by ASFC.^[10][11][12]

References

1. "NTI: Country Overviews: Pakistan: Missile Facilities". Archived from the original on 2004-01-08. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
2. Gady, Franz-Stefan. "Pakistan Tests Ballistic Missile". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
3. "Pakistan Army". www.astronautix.com.
4. "NTI: Country Overviews: Pakistan: Missile Facilities". Archived from the original on 2004-01-08. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
5. Tilla - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 23, p. 360
6. "Pakistan Army Test-Fires Indigenous Anti-Tank Guided Missile". Retrieved 20 March 2023.
7. "Pakistani Army conducts training launch of Ghauri ballistic missile". Army Technology. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
8. "Tilla". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
9. "Tilla Jogian / Malute [Malot] - Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities". nuke.fas.org. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
10. "Tilla". www.astronautix.com.
11. "Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Army conduct Joint Field Firing Exercise at Tilla Ranges - video Dailymotion". Dailymotion. 19 August 2015.
12. "PKAFSC". www.astronautix.com.