CleanupBot at 07:17, 11 December 2022

2022-12-11T07:17:10Z

New page

'''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).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=M|first=Anantha Krishnan|date=2021-01-11|title=DRDO lab preps for tests of upgraded cruise missile, UAV|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/01/11/drdo-lab-preps-for-tests-of-upgraded-cruise-missile-uav.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-18|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Historical Background {{!}} Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India|url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/labs-establishment/historical-background/aeronautical-development-establishment-ade|access-date=2021-03-18|website=www.drdo.gov.in}}</ref>

ATR, Chitradurga is located at Varavoo Kaval in [[Challakere Taluk]] of [[Chitradurga district]] on a 4,290 acre plot.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-11-01|title=DRDO to set up test range for UAV at Challakere in K'taka|work=OneIndia|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2008/10/31/drdo-to-set-up-test-range-for-uav-at-challakere-in-ktaka-1225556295.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-02-27|title=Karnataka allots 4,290 acres to DRDO project|work=The Hindu Business Line|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/Karnataka-allots-4290-acres-to-DRDO-project/article20101922.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2008/10/31/drdo-to-set-up-test-range-for-uav-at-challakere-in-ktaka-1225556295.html|title = DRDO to set up test range for UAV at Challakere in K'taka|date = November 2008}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=M|first=Anantha Krishnan|date=2017-05-28|title=Over to Challakere: Glimpse of DRDO's Aeronautical Test Range|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/photostories/news/over-to-challakere-glimpse-of-drdo-s-aeronautical-test-range-1.1971882|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Mathrubhumi}}</ref>

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 setup a high-power computing facility.<ref name=":0" />

Challakere ATR is intended to conduct the trials of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), air-to-ground weapons, parachutes and aerostats.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Subramanian|first=T. S.|date=2010-08-09|title=Test range in Chitradurga coming up|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Test-range-in-Chitradurga-coming-up/article16124750.ece|access-date=2021-03-24|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> It has been planned not to utilize Challakere ATR for test flight of ballistic missiles.

The Challakere ATR was partially activated on 15 December 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-01-25|title=New DRDO test range becomes operational|work=The Hindu Business Line|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-others/tp-states/New-DRDO-test-range-becomes-operational/article20022174.ece|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-24}}</ref> The facility was formally inaugurated by Union Defence and Finance Minister [[Arun Jaitley]] on 28 May 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Peermohamed|first1=Alnoor|title=Jaitley inaugurates new aeronautical test range in Karnataka's Challakere|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/jaitley-inaugurates-new-aeronautical-test-range-in-karnataka-s-challakere-117052800586_1.html|website=Business Standard India|accessdate=28 May 2017|date=28 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Urs|first1=Anil|title=Defence Minister inaugurates DRDO's Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/defence-minister-inaugurates-drdos-aeronautical-test-range-in-karnataka/article9714575.ece|website=The Hindu Business Line|accessdate=28 May 2017|language=en|date=28 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Defence Minister inaugurates Rs 1,300 crore Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2017/may/28/defence-minister-inaugurates-rs-1300-crore-aeronautical-test-range-in-karnataka-1610036.html|website=The New Indian Express|accessdate=28 May 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Pashan Test Range]]
*[[Ramgarh Test Range]]
*[[Tandur Test Range]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}

{{coord missing|Karnataka}}

[[Category:Ministry of Defence (India)]]
[[Category:Defence Research and Development Organisation]]
[[Category:Aviation in India]]
[[Category:Military installations of India]]

Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range - Revision history

CleanupBot at 07:17, 11 December 2022