At the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Aeronautical Development Agency’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project in Puttaparthi, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the project would mark a historic chapter in the defence history of both Andhra Pradesh and India.
He stated that establishing such a prestigious defence project in a spiritually significant place like Puttaparthi reflects India’s growing strength in indigenous defence manufacturing.
Praising Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Rajnath Singh described him as a visionary leader focused on technology and development. He said he had rarely seen a leader with such futuristic thinking in his long political career.
The Defence Minister noted that Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a role model for the country, calling it “Advanced Pradesh.” He highlighted how global technology giants like Google are choosing Andhra Pradesh for investments and innovation.
He explained that the AMCA project, being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under DRDO, aims to manufacture fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. The project includes aircraft integration facilities and an advanced flight testing center with an investment of ₹15,000 crore.
According to him, such advanced flight testing facilities exist only in a few countries, and India has now joined that elite group. He said the advanced fighter jets developed under the AMCA project would take off from Puttaparthi and strengthen India’s air power and defence capabilities.
Rajnath Singh also announced several major defence and drone manufacturing projects in Andhra Pradesh:
- Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will invest ₹480 crore to manufacture advanced autonomous underwater systems and torpedoes.
- Agneyastra, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge, will manufacture advanced weapons systems with an investment of ₹1,500 crore.
- HFCL will establish facilities for manufacturing electrical fuses with an investment of ₹1,294 crore.
- Eight drone companies will jointly develop a Drone City in Kurnool.
He emphasized that drone technology has become a game changer in modern warfare and will also benefit sectors like agriculture and logistics.
Comparing Kurnool’s future potential to Surat’s Diamond City and Bengaluru’s Silicon Valley identity, Rajnath Singh said Kurnool could become a global drone hub.
The Defence Minister stressed that India can no longer depend on other nations for national security and highlighted the importance of self-reliance under the “Make in India” initiative. He noted that India’s defence production has increased from ₹46,000 crore to ₹1.54 lakh crore over the last decade, while defence exports have risen from ₹600 crore to ₹40,000 crore.
He urged Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to develop the region near Bengaluru into a military-industrial complex that could significantly contribute to India’s economic and strategic growth.
Rajnath Singh concluded by saying that these projects would not only strengthen India’s armed forces but also create jobs, improve skills, and bring integrated regional development with schools, hospitals, roads, and townships.
