Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range

Last updated

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akash (missile)</span> Indian surface-to-air missile series

Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). Surveillance and Fire control radar, tactical control and command center and missile launcher are developed by Bharat Electronics (BEL), Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and Larsen & Toubro. The Akash missile system can target aircraft up to 30 km (19 mi) away. It has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles. It is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astra (missile)</span> Indian beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

Astra is an Indian family of all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Different missiles of this family are capable of engaging targets at varying distances of 500 m (0.31 mi) up to 340 km (210 mi). Astra Mk-1 has been integrated with Indian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKI and will be integrated with Dassault Mirage 2000, HAL Tejas and Mikoyan MiG-29 in the future. Limited series production of Astra Mk-1 missiles began in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher</span> Indian long-range multiple launch rocket system

Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army. The system has a maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 120 km for Mark-I enhanced version, and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds. The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. Pinaka saw service during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralising Pakistani positions on the mountain tops. It has since been inducted into the Indian Army in large numbers.

The Indian Human Spaceflight Programme (IHSP) is an ongoing programme by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop the technology needed to launch crewed orbital spacecraft into low Earth orbit. Three uncrewed flights, named Gaganyaan-1, Gaganyaan-2 and Gaganyaan-3 are scheduled to launch in 2024 followed by crewed flight in 2024 on an LVM3 rocket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DRDO Nishant</span> Type of aircraft

The DRDO Nishant - is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by India's Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a branch of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Armed Forces. The Nishant UAV is primarily tasked with intelligence gathering over enemy territory and also for reconnaissance, training, surveillance, target designation, artillery fire correction, damage assessment, ELINT and SIGINT. The UAV has an endurance of four hours and thirty minutes. Nishant has completed development phase and user trials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gas Turbine Research Establishment</span>

Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Bengaluru, its primary function is research and development of aero gas-turbines for Military aircraft. As a spin-off effect, GTRE has been developing marine gas-turbines also.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DRDO Rustom</span> Type of aircraft

The DRDO Rustom is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation for the three services, Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force of the Indian Armed Forces. Rustom is derived from the NAL's LCRA developed by a team under the leadership of late Prof Rustom Damania in the 1980s. The UAV will have structural changes and a new engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janardhana Swamy</span> Indian politician

Janardhana Swamy served as a Member of Parliament in 15th Lok Sabha (2009-2014) representing the Chitradurga Lok Sabha Constituency in the Parliament of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DRDO Ghatak</span> Type of aircraft

Ghatak is an autonomous jet powered stealthy unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), being developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Air Force. The design work on the UCAV is to be carried out by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft (AURA) was a tentative name for the UCAV. Details of the project are classified.

The Indian Air Force has been undergoing a modernization program to replace and upgrade outdated equipment since the late 1990s to meet modern standards. For that reason, it has started procuring and developing aircraft, weapons, associated technologies, and infrastructures. Some of these programs date back to the late 1980s. The primary focus of current modernization and upgrades is to replace aircraft purchased from the Soviet Union that currently form the backbone of the Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DRDO Abhyas</span> Aerial target drone

The DRDO Abhyas is a high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT) being built by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Armed Forces.

Ramgarh Test Range is an out-door testing and evaluating facility of Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL).

The Tandur Test Range is an outdoor trial field being built by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (Drdo) for the development of electronic warfare systems. It is spread over an area of 8000 acres of land. It is located in the Tandur district of Telangana, 135 km away from Hyderabad. The project is being set up with a planned investment of Rs 500 Crores. As of 2010 it was expected to be operational in 2013 and will test communication electronic warfare systems.

Machilipatnam test Range Project is a missile test range facility being built by DRDO of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. Satheesh Reddy</span> Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri

G. Satheesh Reddy is the Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri, leading India's indigenous development of defence systems and technologies. He has worked on the development of missiles, fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial defence systems, and radar systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TAPAS-BH-201</span> Indian unmanned aerial vehicle

The Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201 or TAPAS BH-201 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being developed in India by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) on the lines of General Atomics MQ-1 Predator.

The DRDO Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) is a long-range precision-guided anti-airfield weapon developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is designed to be capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kilometres (62 mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MPATGM</span> Indian anti-tank missile

The MPATGM or man portable anti-tank guided missile, is an Indian third generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) derived from India's Nag ATGM. As of 2022, it is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in partnership with Indian defence contractor VEM Technologies Private Limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HAL Combat Air Teaming System</span> Indian air teaming system

The HAL Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) is an Indian unmanned and manned combat aircraft air teaming system being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The system will consist of a manned fighter aircraft acting as "mothership" of the system and a set of swarming UAVs and UCAVs governed by the mothership aircraft. A twin-seated HAL Tejas is likely to be the mothership aircraft. Various other sub components of the system are currently under development and will be jointly produced by HAL, National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Newspace Research & Technologies.

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.