DRDO Floating Test Range

Floating Test Range (FTR) is a ship designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India which will serve as a missile testing range.

Characteristics
The Floating Test Range (FTR) is a ship designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation which is expected to serve as a testing range for missiles. It has a displacement of 10000 t and a length of 200 m with a width of 60 m. The ship is equipped with an Electro-optical missile tracking system, a S-Band radar, and tracking and telemetry systems. Facilities such as a Launch pad, a Mission control center and a Launch control centre are also present.

The FTR will capable of launching missiles with ranges up to around 1500 km.

Purpose
The FTR will enable DRDO to overcome some of the disadvantages of testing missiles from the Wheeler Island. It will enable testing of missiles at different trajectories and altitudes and various ranges by avoiding landmass and sea-lanes related constraints. Since missile testing from the FTR can be performed in the ocean, minimal safety precautions will be required. This will facilitate faster development of missile projects since advanced warnings and notices to ships and planes would not be required, and will minimise the risk of civilian damage.

The FTR is expected to facilitate the development of the Phase-II of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.

Construction
Construction work on the ship started in 2015 and was initially expected to be completed within 3–4 years. As of October 2019, the ship is expected to be fully ready by 2020.