New test facility for drones, other weapons in Karnataka’s Challakere

BENGALURU: The country is getting a new high-tech facility to test its drones, air-to-ground weapons and other equipment at Challakere in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district, a defence official said on Saturday.

“The dedicated Aeronautical Test Range at Challakere will evaluate the indigenous aeronautical systems built for the Indian armed forces by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) labs,” the official said ahead of its unveiling on Sunday by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley. The Rs 1,300 crore facility’s secure air space will enable integrating and testing of various UAVs and other defence equipment, including weapons, parachutes, aerostats and electric warfare flares before their induction into the services.

As the first of its kind in the country, the sprawling 4,090-acre ATR also has a 2.2 km runway along with taxiways in conformity with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.

Initially, the facility with two hangers and a radar centre will integrate and test Rustom-1 and Rustom-2 Tactical Advanced Platform for Aerial Surveillance (TAPAS).When fully operational, the range will be used for testing and evaluating other projects of the NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the government was considering exiting Air India operations.

“There are many private airlines like Jet Airways, IndiGo, GoAir. If 86 per cent of the aviation market can be handled by private sector, then 100 per cent can also be handled by the private sector,” Jaitley told DD News in an interview.

National passenger carrier Air India currently has a market share of 14 per cent and a debt of Rs 50,000 crore. The private airlines enjoy 86 Defence Research and Development Organisation.

DRDO’s other labs such as the Centre for Air Borne Systems, the Gas Turbine Research Establishment, the Defence Avionics Research Establishment and the Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification will all be using the new facility in addition to the ADE’s ATR at Kolar.

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Space Research Organisation are also setting up their new facilities in the region. per cent of the market share.

“Air India has a debt of Rs 50,000 crore. Its valuation of aircrafts will be at Rs 20,000-25,000 crore.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha had earlier said that Air India’s debt needs to be reduced and balance sheet restructured as part of its financial transformation.

“Air India’s balance sheet has to be restructured and debt reduced. The other issue is that corporate governance and professional management need to be put in place.” — IANS