Second covert defence site in Karnataka: US think tank report

U.S. think tank has revealed that Karnataka state of India is having site of hectic activity for 

India’s covert uranium enrichment programme as well as a secret testing ground for armed drones.

They have released series of satellite photographs and other evidence compiled to prove India’s secret covert operations for testing its defence technology.

Earlier on June 20, IHS Jane’s had revealed that India is possibly extending the Mysore 

Rare Materials Plant into clandestine production of uranium hexafluoride that could theoretically be channeled or used to manufacture of hydrogen bombs or thermonuclear weapon.

In first week of July, Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) has suggested that India appeared to have built the Special Material Enrichment 

Facility (SMEF) and started constructing a large enrichment centrifuge complex near Chitradurga, Karnataka.

ISIS mentioned that between 2009 and 2010, approximately 10,000 acres of land near Chitradurga, Karnataka was allegedly diverted for various defence purposes.

As per the report of Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS)

• 1,410 acres in Ullarthi Kaval and 400 acres in Khudapura were allocated to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for developing the SMEF.
• 4,000 acres in Varavu Kaval and 290 acres in Khudapura were allocated to the Defence Research and Development Organisation for developing and testing long-endurance [48-72 hours] Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAVs] and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles [UCAVs].

ISIS has taken help of Airbus commercial satellite imagery to show that the two areas were isolated with 10 km and 5 km walls (For Map please refer to the below mentioned PDF)

The satellite imagery also shows 3.5 km runway and a secondary runway that was south of this area, which is believed to be in DRDO’s test centre for long-endurance UAVs and UCAVs.

ISIS has mentioned that BARC facility in Karnataka is illegal considering the reports by environmental groups that have challenged setting up this facility.

ISIS report clearly mentions that the new facility will significantly increase India’s ability to produce enriched uranium for both civil and military purposes, including nuclear weapons and urged India to therefore announce that the SMEF would be subject to International 

Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, committed only to peaceful uses.

PDF report of Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) on India’s New Uranium Enrichment Plant in Karnataka