Kharan Airport

Military Base Conversion and Strategic Importance. The facility is not 'closed' but is an active, restricted military installation. It was developed and is maintained by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) and a weapons testing range. Its strategic military function precludes any civilian or commercial operations.

The site is an active and fully operational Pakistan Air Force installation. It continues to serve two primary functions:

1. **Forward Operating Base (FOB):** It is maintained in a state of readiness to host PAF fighter jets and other aircraft for training, exercises (such as the 'High Mark' series), and operational deployments.

2. **Kharan Weapons Test Range:** The surrounding desert area is one of Pakistan's primary test ranges for air-launched weapons, including bombs, rockets, and missiles. The airbase provides the necessary logistical and operational support for these test activities.

The Kharan Airport, more accurately known as the Kharan Airbase or Kharan Test Range, holds immense strategic importance in Pakistan's history.

1. **Nuclear Test Site (Chagai-II):** Its most significant historical event occurred on May 30, 1998. Two days after the first set of nuclear tests (Chagai-I) in the Ras Koh Hills, Pakistan conducted its second and final test at a site in the Kharan desert, approximately 30 km from the airbase. This test, codenamed 'Chagai-II', involved the successful detonation of a single, smaller-yield (reportedly 15-20 kilotons) boosted-fission plutonium device. This test demonstrated Pakistan's capability to miniaturize a warhead for delivery by combat aircraft, such as the F-16s stationed at nearby PAF bases.

2. **PAF Forward Operating Base:** Throughout its existence, it has served as a Forward Operating Base for the Pakistan Air Force. It acts as a satellite or dispersal base for major airbases like PAF Base Samungli (Quetta), allowing for the deployment of fighter squadrons during exercises or periods of heightened tension. It is equipped with a long runway (approximately 9,000 ft) and hardened aircraft shelters, indicating its role in supporting combat operations.

There are no known plans or prospects for converting or opening Kharan Airbase for civilian or commercial use. Its critical, ongoing role as a strategic military base and a sensitive weapons test range makes any such possibility extremely unlikely. The facility remains under the exclusive control of the Pakistan Armed Forces.