SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s Tejas MkII program is gearing up for a significant milestone. Major developmental trials of the advanced fighter jet are slated to take place for the first time at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Challakere, Karnataka. According to a report by idrw.org, the outdoor testing facility will become the new hub for the MkII’s rigorous evaluation process, marking a shift from the traditional testing grounds at HAL Bangalore Airport, which anchored much of the Tejas Mk1 program.
The Chitradurga ATR, sprawling across thousands of acres in Karnataka’s semi-arid terrain, is purpose-built for testing and evaluating aircraft under diverse conditions. Sources cited by idrw.org indicate that after initial trials at HAL’s Bangalore facility—where foundational assembly and preliminary checks will occur—the Tejas MkII will be relocated to the ATR. This move aims to streamline the testing phase, enabling faster turnaround times and a higher sortie rate per day. To support this transition, test pilots and ground crew from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will also shift to the ATR, ensuring hands-on maintenance and operational continuity for the aircraft.
The program, led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with HAL, plans to manufacture four Tejas MkII aircraft specifically for developmental and weapons trials. This quartet will undergo an exhaustive test regimen at the ATR, covering airframe performance, avionics integration, and weapons systems—key steps toward operational clearance by the end of 2028.
Unlike the Tejas Mk1, which relied heavily on HAL Bangalore Airport for its trials, the majority of the MkII’s testing will now unfold at the ATR. This shift reflects a strategic decision to leverage the range’s expansive infrastructure, which includes advanced instrumentation, radar systems, and a controlled airspace ideal for high-stakes flight tests. The facility’s isolation from urban congestion also minimizes logistical delays, allowing the team to push the aircraft through multiple sorties daily—a critical factor in meeting the ambitious 2028 deadline set by the Cabinet Committee on Security, which sanctioned ?10,000 crore for the project in 2022.
The move to Chitradurga is expected to accelerate the MkII’s development timeline. The initial prototype rollout is targeted for late 2025, with the first flight slated for early 2026, followed by extensive trials at the ATR. “Relocating to the ATR will allow us to conduct more sorties and conclude major trials efficiently,” an official familiar with the program told idrw.org. The facility’s capabilities will also support weapons trials, testing the MkII’s arsenal—potentially including beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles and precision-guided munitions—crucial for its role as a multirole fighter replacing ageing platforms like the Mirage 2000 and MiG-29.
This is a departure from past practices, where HAL Bangalore’s constrained runway and urban proximity limited testing flexibility. The ATR’s open terrain and modern amenities offer a stark contrast, aligning with the program’s need for rapid progress.
NOTE: Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.