Rajnath Singh, Chandrababu Naidu Launch Mega Defence Projects in Andhra; AMCA Facility, Drone City to Power Aatmanirbhar Bharat

In a major push to India’s defence indigenisation drive, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday unveiled a series of strategic aerospace and defence projects in Andhra Pradesh, positioning the state as a key node in India’s march towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The leaders laid the foundation stone for the Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) at Puttaparthi, alongside a Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility in Anakapalli district. Groundbreaking ceremonies were also held for ammunition, energetics and fuse manufacturing units, while a consortium of eight firms announced the creation of a Drone City in Kurnool.

Calling the developments “truly historic”, Rajnath Singh underscored that self-reliance in defence is no longer an option but a strategic necessity amid global uncertainties.

The AMCA testing centre, to be developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under Defence Research and Development Organisation, will fast-track India’s fifth-generation fighter jet programme. With an outlay of around ₹15,000 crore, the project is expected to place Puttaparthi among a select group of global aerospace hubs.

Simultaneously, the ₹480-crore naval facility by Bharat Dynamics Limited will manufacture advanced underwater systems and torpedoes, significantly reducing import dependency and strengthening maritime capabilities.

On the private sector front, investments exceeding ₹5,000 crore are being channelled into defence manufacturing. Agneyastra Energetics Limited, backed by Bharat Forge Limited, is setting up a ₹1,500-crore energetics facility, while HFCL Limited is establishing a ₹1,200-crore ammunition and electric fuse plant.

Highlighting the importance of emerging technologies, Singh said the proposed Drone City would act as a force multiplier in both defence and civilian domains, predicting that the region could soon be known as India’s “Drone Hub”.

The Raksha Mantri noted that India’s defence production has surged from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to ₹1.54 lakh crore currently, and is on track to hit ₹1.75 lakh crore in the coming months. Defence exports have also witnessed exponential growth, reaching approximately ₹40,000 crore.

Emphasising a “Whole of People” approach, Singh said the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has transformed defence manufacturing into a national movement, integrating startups, MSMEs, and large industries.

Chandrababu Naidu, pitching Andhra Pradesh as a future-ready industrial powerhouse, called on industry to “Design in AP, Make in AP, Lead from AP”, assuring full policy and infrastructure support.

Describing the projects as “growth poles”, both leaders highlighted their potential to generate employment, boost local supply chains, and create a robust ecosystem linking industry with academia and skill institutions.