Indian Defence Minister lays foundation stone of Aeronautical Development Agency Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft Project in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh –
Chandrababu Naidu is a visionary leader who thinks about technology and development – Rajnath Singh
RAJA PENTAPATI . AP Bureau Chief
NATIONAL
May 15th, Bharat News
(Five-Star Rated News Service by Google)
AMARAVATI .- (Puttaparthy)
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for major aerospace and defence projects at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district on May 15, 2026. The main project is the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, or AMCA, infrastructure, which is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under DRDO.
The AMCA facility is planned as a core integration, development, and flight-testing complex for India’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme. Reports say the project covers nearly 650 acres and involves an estimated investment of around ₹15,803 crore to ₹16,000 crore.
Rajnath Singh described the project as a historic step in India’s defence journey and said indigenous defence manufacturing is essential for national security. He said the new facility would strengthen India’s self-reliance in advanced combat aviation technologies, including stealth systems, avionics, and integrated combat capabilities.
The Puttaparthi project is important because it places Andhra Pradesh in a stronger position in India’s defence and aerospace ecosystem. The state government says the project will help create a dedicated industrial township and generate about 7,500 jobs.
The broader package also includes other defence-related projects, such as a Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility of Bharat Dynamics Limited in Anakapalli district and drone-related or tactical defence initiatives. These projects are meant to support manufacturing, testing, and innovation across different defence segments.
Project significance
This is not just a single factory or office complex; it is being positioned as a national hub for aircraft integration, validation, flight testing, and certification. That makes it strategically important for India’s long-term goal of reducing dependence on foreign defence technology.
For Andhra Pradesh, the immediate gains are expected in land development, industrial activity, skilled employment, and new infrastructure around Puttaparthi. In political terms, the event also signals stronger central-state cooperation on defence-led growth in the state.
Swarna Andhra Pradesh
