Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga is an out-door testing and evaluation facility set up by DRDO exclusively for unmanned and manned aircraft. The ATR is under the command of the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).[1][2]

ATR, Chitradurga is located at Varavoo Kaval in Challakere Taluk of Chitradurga district on a 4,290 acre plot.[3][4] The land was bought by Ministry of Defence from the state government for Rs.12 crore (Rs.120 million) in a deal negotiated in 2008.[5] The project was set up with an investment of Rs 1300 Crores.

ATR, Chitradurga has a Range Control Centre (RCC) with air traffic display system. It is equipped with a mission video distribution and display system. It has a Radar Centre which houses primary and secondary surveillance radars. It has two hangars which houses unmanned aerial vehicles Rustom-1 and Rustom-2. The runway is currently 2.2 km long with the capacity to host take off and landing from any end.[6]

The project envisages a runway beside other tracking and control equipments and a rail link to the facility have also been planned. In 2021, ADE planned to expand the runway from 2.2 km to 3 km and set up a high-power computing facility.[1]

Chitradurga ATR is intended to conduct the trials of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), air-to-ground weapons, parachutes and aerostats.[7] It has been planned not to utilize Challakere ATR for test flight of ballistic missiles.

The Chitradurga ATR was partially activated on 15 December 2010.[8] The facility was formally inaugurated by Union Defence and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on 28 May 2017.[9][10][11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 M, Anantha Krishnan (2021-01-11). "DRDO lab preps for tests of upgraded cruise missile, UAV". The Week. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  2. ↑ "Historical Background | Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". www.drdo.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  3. ↑ "DRDO to set up test range for UAV at Challakere in K'taka". OneIndia. 2008-11-01. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  4. ↑ "Karnataka allots 4,290 acres to DRDO project". The Hindu Business Line. 2011-02-27.
  5. ↑ "DRDO to set up test range for UAV at Challakere in K'taka". November 2008.
  6. ↑ M, Anantha Krishnan (2017-05-28). "Over to Challakere: Glimpse of DRDO's Aeronautical Test Range". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  7. ↑ Subramanian, T. S. (2010-08-09). "Test range in Chitradurga coming up". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  8. ↑ "New DRDO test range becomes operational". The Hindu Business Line. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  9. ↑ Peermohamed, Alnoor (28 May 2017). "Jaitley inaugurates new aeronautical test range in Karnataka's Chitraduga Dt Challakere Tq". Business Standard India. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  10. ↑ Urs, Anil (28 May 2017). "Defence Minister inaugurates DRDO's Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka". The Hindu Business Line. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "Defence Minister inaugurates Rs 1,300 crore Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 28 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.

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