Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO)
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A backgrounder
OTHER NAME: N/A
LOCATION: Headquartered in Karachi; additional facilities in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, and Peshawar
SUBORDINATE TO: Strategic Plans Division
SIZE: PKR 3.2 billion budget (2009-10)
FACILITY STATUS: Active
Originally a research branch of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), but now a separate entity under the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Organization (SUPARCO) is Pakistan’s civilian space agency.
Analysts credit SUPARCO with Pakistan’s first ventures into solid-fueled ballistic missiles – specifically, the modification of French sounding rockets to produce the short-range Hatf-1 and Hatf-2 missiles.
In June 1991, the Bush Administration imposed missile sanctions on SUPARCO under the Arms Export Control Act and the Export Administration Act of 1979. In 1998, the Clinton Administration sanctioned SUPARCO for unspecified involvement in nuclear and missile technology. During this time, SUPARCO engaged in numerous illicit materials transfers. In 1995, the United States warned European suppliers of SUPARCO interest in procuring missile-production products. In 1996, Taiwan and Hong Kong seized numerous shipments of Ammonium perchlorate (AP), a solid-propellant component, bound for SUPARCO from North Korea and routed through China. However, in 2010 President George W. Bush waived the 1991 and 1998 sanctions in order to facilitate post-September 11 cooperation with Pakistan.
SUPARCO’s recent benchmarks include plans to launch an indigenously developed satellite on 14 August 2011, and the development of Pakistan's first satellite launch vehicle. While the National Defence Complex (NDC) now develops the Hatf-2/Abdali, SUPARCO still operates the Sonmiani Beach Test Flight Range, which hosts test-flights for both the updated Hatf-2/Abdali missiles and the Ghaznavi and Shaheen missiles.
