HOME
NATION
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
INTERNATIONAL
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ENTERTAINMENT
LIFESTYLE & FASHION
SPORTS
TRAVEL
NATIONBUSINESS & ECONOMY
INTERNATIONAL
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ENTERTAINMENT
LIFESTYLE & FASHION
SPORTS
TRAVEL
MORE STORIES Why smokers struggle to quit and fail Hasina chooses 25 novice ministers, makes personal physician foreign minister Malik wants to guide Pakistan to the top Skin sizzles in Bollywood - and it's not a problem Striking truckers hope government will talk to them 'Prabhakaran's extradition call shows India's stand on LTTE' We need more short films to promote young talent: Anupam Kher Ashok Leyland sales down 63 percent in December BJP draws roadmap to general elections, sticks to terror Mamata's acts are childish: Biman Bose
© 2008-2010 Dmanewsdesk.com
- All Rights Reserved.
- All Rights Reserved.
Defence lab to set up new test range in Karnataka
November 1, 2008
Bangalore, 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.
"Over the years, we have been using a World War II airstrip at Kolar (about 100 km from Bangalore) for UAV trials. In view of the heavy air traffic from the new civilian airport and the adjacent Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Yelahanka, we have decided to look for an alternative test range that is nearer to Bangalore (the aeronautics cluster of India)," a DRDO official told IANS.
The Chitradurga test range is expected to be commissioned by 2010-11, with full-fledged facilities and equipment to carry out trials of various products designed and developed by DRDO for induction into the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
"We have zeroed-in on Chitradurga after inspecting about a dozen locations in the state. Being in no-man's land and 20 km from the district headquarters, the location is ideal and safe for conducting various trials on land and in the air," the official pointed out.
"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.
"Over the years, we have been using a World War II airstrip at Kolar (about 100 km from Bangalore) for UAV trials. In view of the heavy air traffic from the new civilian airport and the adjacent Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Yelahanka, we have decided to look for an alternative test range that is nearer to Bangalore (the aeronautics cluster of India)," a DRDO official told IANS.
The Chitradurga test range is expected to be commissioned by 2010-11, with full-fledged facilities and equipment to carry out trials of various products designed and developed by DRDO for induction into the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
"We have zeroed-in on Chitradurga after inspecting about a dozen locations in the state. Being in no-man's land and 20 km from the district headquarters, the location is ideal and safe for conducting various trials on land and in the air," the official pointed out.
Nation
Former Prime Minister V.P.Singh dead, was a man of the masses
Taj Hotel hostages rescued, gun fight with terrorists still on
Mumbai terror attack: security stepped up across country
Mumbai's Taj - from icon of grace to symbol of terror
101 killed, security forces battle terrorists in Mumbai
IB keeps tap on Togadia, arrest possible
Valley of Hope
Sadhvi, five other Malegaon accused in judicial custody till Dec 3
Heavy poll turnout pushes Kashmir separatists into a corner
No Rly jobs to Marathis due to Lalu's serpent-like grip: Sena
By-elections in three states next month
Terror groups may use nuclear, biological devices: govt
Six Jammu and Kashmir constituencies go to poll today
For fresh thinking, two cheers for Rahul Gandhi
NDA will radically change governance, says Advani
Malegaon blast to overshadow Indo-Pak terror talks
Heavy voting a trendsetter in Kashmir: Mufti Sayeed
Polling ends in Chhattisgarh with impressive turnout
New fund to restart Delhi's stalled infrastructure projects
India to launch a manned mission to space