New test range for Indian Defence

The state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
is setting up a new test range, the country’s second such, near
Chitradurga, about 200 km from Bangalore, a top official said
Friday.”The new test range will be located on the outskirts of
Chitradurga at Kudapura Kaval on a 4,200 acre plot bought from the
state government for Rs.12 crore (Rs.120 million). The cost of the
project is estimated to be about Rs.1,000 crore (Rs.10 billion),” DRDO
chief controller (R&D) Prahlada told reporters here.

The range will be the second such facility after the integrated test
range at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from Balasore off the Orissa
coast, which is used for launching missiles, rockets and flight test
vehicles.

“The Chitradurga facility will be used for conducting trials of
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), surveillance systems, radars and
electronic warfare equipment. Being a hilly terrain and a barren land
without human habitation, the range will also be used for dropping
bombs from UAVs in target areas,” Prahlada said.

The defence lab has been forced to look for a new test range for UAV
trials ever since the new Bangalore international airport commenced
operations in May at Devanahalli, about 40 km from this tech hub.