Claim: Karnataka home to 2nd covert N-site, drone testing

pmaitra

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
33,262
Likes
19,593
Karnataka home to second covert nuke site, drone testing: report


Image provided by IHS Jane's appears to show a potential uranium enrichment site at Mysore's Indian Rare Metals Plant. Karnataka appeared to be a site of hectic activity for India's covert uranium enrichment programme as well as a secret testing ground for armed drones, according to satellite photographs and other evidence compiled by a U.S. think-tank. Photo: Special Arrangement

Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security suggests that India appeared to have followed through on its publicly announced intention to build the SMEF and started constructing a large enrichment centrifuge complex near Chitradurga, Karnataka.
On June 20, 2014 IHS Jane's revealed that India was possibly extending Mysore's Indian Rare Metals Plant into clandestine production of uranium hexafluoride that could theoretically be channelled towards the manufacture of hydrogen bombs.
Within this walled-off tract, 1,410 acres in Ullarthi Kaval and 400 acres in Khudapura were allocated to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for the purpose of developing the SMEF, the ISIS said, adding that a further 4,000 acres in Varavu Kaval and 290 acres in Khudapura were allocated to the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the purpose of developing and testing "long-endurance (48-72 hours) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles."

So far as the drone programme was concerned, the April 17, 2014 Airbus commercial satellite imagery appeared to show two areas isolated with 10 km and 5 km walls, as well as a 3.5 km runway and a secondary runway that was "clearly visible" south of this area, believed to be in DRDO's test centre for long-endurance UAVs and UCAVs.
The report's authors, David Albright and Serena Kelleher-Vergantini, said that the new facility "will significantly increase India's ability to produce enriched uranium for both civil and military purposes, including nuclear weapons", urging India to therefore announce that the SMEF would be subject to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, committed only to peaceful uses.

The report also warned that India "has allegedly pursued illegal means to outfit the RMP and is likely to attempt to do so for this new enrichment plant", and thus alerted other governments and suppliers of nuclear-related dual use goods to the need for vigilance "to prevent efforts by Indian trading and manufacturing companies to acquire such goods", for either plant.
Yet according to the ISIS India as a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty faces the risk of trade bans from, for example, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which may have concerns about the suitability of Indian nuclear entities as to receive nuclear imports regardless of the U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation agreement's separation between military and civil nuclear programmes.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...-site-drone-testing-report/article6168832.ece

[HR][/HR]

India should be ready to impose trade embargo on any country that tries to act using the justification drawn from the NPT. IF sanctions do come through, India will have the opportunity to perform another rounds of nuclear tests, that are badly needed. Hopefully, there are newer, and more sophisticated designs ready for testing at a few months' notice.
 

pmaitra

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
33,262
Likes
19,593
Khudapura nuclear site: Exclusive image


Airbus imagery dated April 17, 2014 showing how land is being divided up near Khudapura, Chitradurga District, Karnataka. Courtesy: Institute for Science and International Security

Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security has suggested that India appeared to have followed through on its publicly announced intention to build the Special Material Enrichment Facility (SMEF) and started constructing a large enrichment centrifuge complex near Chitradurga, Karnataka.

The Hindu has exclusively obtained an Airbus imagery from the U.S.-based think tank, dated April 17, 2014, showing how land is being divided up near Khudapura, Chitradurga District, Karnataka.
Source: Khudapura nuclear site: Exclusive image - The Hindu
 

bennedose

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2013
Messages
1,365
Likes
2,169
This stupid news item is like saying that a couple got married so thy could covertly have sex.

There is nothing covert about that unsafeguarded site and it is perfectly within India's rights to make Uranium or make love on that site. Stupid lifafa news item - also brainless because it is idiotic to test drones on a nuclear production site when all aerospace facilities are elsewhere
 

pmaitra

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
33,262
Likes
19,593
This stupid news item is like saying that a couple got married so thy could covertly have sex.

There is nothing covert about that unsafeguarded site and it is perfectly within India's rights to make Uranium or make love on that site. Stupid lifafa news item - also brainless because it is idiotic to test drones on a nuclear production site when all aerospace facilities are elsewhere
That is why I called it a claim. Anything coming out of these alphabet soup "organizations" in the US or EU should be treated as a claim until further verification.

Look at the first image. What they are calling a "cascade," might actually be a large chicken poultry. Whatever it is, why don't these people preparing these "reports" get a proper job?
 

happy

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2013
Messages
3,370
Likes
1,454
That is why I called it a claim. Anything coming out of these alphabet soup "organizations" in the US or EU should be treated as a claim until further verification.

Look at the first image. What they are calling a "cascade," might actually be a large chicken poultry. Whatever it is, why don't these people preparing these "reports" get a proper job?
AFAIK, their job IS TO MAKE THESE chicken shit reports :)

On a more serious note, can we ever find such clandestine activity reported on US soil ??
 

pmaitra

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
33,262
Likes
19,593
AFAIK, their job IS TO MAKE THESE chicken shit reports :)

On a more serious note, can we ever find such clandestine activity reported on US soil ??
Yes, but these are brushed off as "conspiracy theory" by the US media, only later to be discovered as being true. See the picture below:

 

Abhijat

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2014
Messages
648
Likes
840
Country flag
Is it related somewhere to the PM's trip to USA in September ? By publishing these news item are they trying to lobby for more concession on nuclear liability law?
 

Twinblade

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
1,578
Likes
3,231
Country flag
Khudapura nuclear site: Exclusive image


Airbus imagery dated April 17, 2014 showing how land is being divided up near Khudapura, Chitradurga District, Karnataka. Courtesy: Institute for Science and International Security



Source: Khudapura nuclear site: Exclusive image - The Hindu
How is this even news ? SMEF Chitradurga has been under construction for a long time because the enrichment facility at Ratnahalli will be supplying fuel for Arihant class submarines. Hence a new enrichment facility is needed at Chitradurga.

Where will the enriched uranium for these boats come from? There is only one Rare Materials Plant at Ratnahalli, near Mysore, to produce enriched uranium. Will the proposed Special Material Enrichment Facility in Chitradurga district in Karnataka be helpful?

Chitradurga will come a little later, not immediately. Our Ratnahalli plant capacity has been enhanced. But more than that, there is significant improvement in our technology. Usually, a term called Separating Work Units (SWUs) defines the technology level that we have achieved in this, and I can assure you that there has been considerable improvement in SWUs of our next generation caskets of centrifuges. The separating capacity of our centrifuges has improved. So total capacity enhancement at Ratnahalli has been done. We are confident of supplying the entire fuel for the set of"¦.

You cannot say anymore that India does not have enrichment technology. India has its own technology and we can produce [enriched uranium]. We have not started doing it for large-scale commercial nuclear power stations, which require a much larger quantity of enriched uranium. We will be able to do that once we go to Chitradurga.
‘In the event of a nuclear incident, victims must get prompt compensation' - The Hindu

Regarding drone site, Chitradurga has a firing range which has been used in the past for the Tejas program. It makes sense to test drones at Chitradurga because it is 2-3 hours from Bangalore and also has a firing range.
 

sesha_maruthi27

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
3,963
Likes
1,803
Country flag
That is why I called it a claim. Anything coming out of these alphabet soup "organizations" in the US or EU should be treated as a claim until further verification.

Look at the first image. What they are calling a "cascade," might actually be a large chicken poultry. Whatever it is, why don't these people preparing these "reports" get a proper job?
Sir and even they are concerned that India might start digging the URANIUM in India and would stop buying it from outside. This is the reason they have so many NGO's doing dharnas and protesting to stop the eco-system... Idiots, they have to do this in USA first and then come to India.
 

thethinker

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2013
Messages
2,808
Likes
6,489
Country flag
For a supposedly third world, backward and poor country, India sure gets a lot of attention from likes of US. Indirectly, so many US "think-tank" employees have their livelihoods dependent on preparing reports like these which can serve as a good alternate to toilet paper if needed.

BTW, next thing US would claim is that there are WMDs in Iraq and attack it to ensure global nuclear safety..oh wait, that was already done in 2003. :thumb:
 

t_co

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2012
Messages
2,538
Likes
709
Are there reservations for Muslims and OBCs in India's nuclear program?

I have received word that India's nuclear program may be the target of a Islam-wide fatwa in the near future, with sabotage against Indian nuclear facilities a 'sacred duty' of any keeper of the faith...
 

hit&run

United States of Hindu Empire
Mod
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
14,104
Likes
63,369
Are there reservations for Muslims and OBCs in India's nuclear program?

I have received word that India's nuclear program may be the target of a Islam-wide fatwa in the near future, with sabotage against Indian nuclear facilities a 'sacred duty' of any keeper of the faith...
Please post the source of your information.

I think your information is totally wrong. Never heard Indian Muslims saying against nuclear plants or military installation rather any educated youth would love to work for these facilities. As far as OBC's are concern then you have no Idea what you are saying.

Having said that, land accusation for such installations can have local resistance at times, which we deal with our own way.
 

bennedose

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2013
Messages
1,365
Likes
2,169
Are there reservations for Muslims and OBCs in India's nuclear program?
Not at all. Only brahmins and banias are allowed. Just Google for the application forms. In fact Google for "Hindustan Nuclear University, Nagpur, Tamil Nadu" and you will see that only the highest of high caste Hinds are allowed. They are first tested to see if they know Vedas and then admitted.

In fact radioactive elements like Uranium and Plutonium and known to have a caste system. They are "untouchables". Does everyone touch and fondle them in China? In Pakistan these elements were imported from China, and everyone was allowed to fondle and rub them. That is why Pakistani brains were affected and everyone became equal.
 

W.G.Ewald

Defence Professionals/ DFI member of 2
Professional
Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
14,139
Likes
8,594
Nobody wants to locate and cite or quote the reports mentioned by The Hindu{I}? This is so typical of DFI. It's much easier to whine, on and on and on, about how unfairly India is treated by Uncle Sam than to contribute any solid information.
 

dude00720

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2010
Messages
467
Likes
1,595
Country flag
I would say, there should be no need to confirm or deny this report. Confirmation increases our standing among our friends, who want us to be strong ex. Singapore,Vietnam or even Japan and our enemies will fear us more. Anyhow, our enemies want us to break down. This will cool their ambitions.

If Jane is giving us free publicity, Someone needs to send them a Jaadu kee Jhappi :)
 
Last edited:

W.G.Ewald

Defence Professionals/ DFI member of 2
Professional
Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
14,139
Likes
8,594
An article from Pakistan point of view...

Indian officials predictably expressed displeasure over the [ISIS ]report and one of them was quoted as saying that it had been "mischievously" timed to influence a meeting later in the week of the NSG, at which India's interest in becoming a member of the group was on the agenda. The US, which is no doubt aware of the existence of the Madras nuclear enrichment facility and its purpose, has also sought to dismiss concerns that it might be intended to enhance India's nuclear arsenal.

About one week later, another US think tank, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), said that India had started constructing a large enrichment centrifuge complex at the Special Material Enrichment Facility (SMEF) near Chitradurga in the Karnataka state, which "will significantly increase India's ability to produce enriched uranium for both civil and military purposes, including nuclear weapons." The Isis urged India to announce that SMEF was only for peaceful uses and would be subject to IAEA safeguards. There is of course little possibility that India will oblige.

Not surprisingly, Washington has welcomed India's ratification of the additional protocol. A spokeswoman for the State Department said that "this action marks another important step in bringing India into the international non-proliferation mainstream" and added that the US remains fully committed to expanding its civil nuclear cooperation with India.

Nuclear sophistry - Asif Ezdi
 

W.G.Ewald

Defence Professionals/ DFI member of 2
Professional
Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
14,139
Likes
8,594
[PDF]http://www.isis-online.org/uploads/isis-reports/documents/SMEF_Brief_July_1_2014_FINAL.pdf[/PDF]
 

Global Defence

Articles

Top