JOIN USSpread over 1,000 acres, ATR cost Rs 290 cr to build
Ajay Singh, director (civil works and estates) of DRDO, said the country’s first-of-its-kind Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), which covers an area of 1,000 acres, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 290 crore.
Briefing about the features of ATR at its inauguration here on Sunday, he said DRDO was testing unmanned aircraft in Kolar earlier. Following the construction of the international airport at Devanahalli near Bengaluru, DRDO was forced to look for an alternative location.
The state government allotted 4,090 acres for the facility. ATR has been constructed as per international standards. It is the range for research, testing, development of different types of aircraft required for the armed forces. It has a runway of 2.2 km, which can be expanded for another km.
It has a range control centre, two hangars and radar laboratory. The lab here uses technology to establish primary and secondary data related to national security. The ATR has a total of 31 buildings, including security and administration, spread over 24,000 sq m.
Singh promised that DRDO would take steps to transform the range into a green area and strive to reduce temperature in this arid region. Rainwater harvesting has already been adopted. In the days to come, technology would be used to convert the land full of bushes into a green area. Steps would also be taken to enhance local economy.
Tapas aircraft, AEWS on display
Captain Stephen operated the unmanned aircraft Tapas and airborne early warning systems (AEWS) as part of the demonstration to mark the inauguration of Aeronautical Test Range on Sunday, in the presence of Defence Minister Arun Jaitley.