Challakere Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) is an out-door testing and evaluating facility being set up by DRDO exclusively for unmanned and manned aircraft.
Challakere ATR is located at Varavoo Kaval in Challakere taluka of Chitradurga district on a 4,290 acre plot. 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. The project is being set up with a planned investment of Rs 1300 Crores. The project envisages a runway beside other tracking and control equipments and a rail link to the facility have also been planned. Challakere ATR is intended to conduct the trials of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), air-to-ground weapons, parachutes and aerostats. 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.