The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)4 October Launched an Extreme Altitude Research Centre at Changla in Jammu and Kashmir at 17,600 ft. above mean sea level, the world’s highest terrestrial R&D centre.It has been confirmed by Defence Institute of In height Altitude Research (DIHAR), Leh, a constituent establishment of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The centre, 75 km off Leh town towards Pangong Lake, is poised to be the world’s highest terrestrial R&D centre is located in the cold desert of Ladakh. The temperature goes as low as -40 degrees Celsius during extreme winter months coupled with reduced atmospheric pressure and humidity, high wind velocity and UV radiation.
The centre was released by DRDO chief S Christopher, who highlighted its utility for Research & Development of food and agriculture and bio-medical sciences for well-being of the soldiers deployed in high-altitude cold desert.
A large number of life sciences activities are proposed to be undertaken at this centre. The other activities at the centre will include human physiological work, designing, testing andvalidation, long term conservation of plant genetic resources and demonstration of mobile and portable greenhouses. DRDO also work in soil-less micro-farming technologies for fresh food in remote landlocked posts besides conservation and propagation of extreme altitude medicinal plants and others.
Defence R&D and DG (Life Sciences) Bhuvnesh Kumar said that new centre, besides undertaking life sciences activities, possiblyafford unique opportunity to other labs and establishments of DRDO for testing of electronics and communication devices, batteries, UAV’s micro engines among others.
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