New Delhi : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday laid the foundation stones and presided over the grounding ceremonies for several major aerospace and defence manufacturing projects in Puttaparthi, marking a significant push towards self-reliance in India’s defence sector.
The projects include the Core Integration and Flight Testing Centre for the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme at Puttaparthi and a Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility at T Sirasapalli village in Anakapalli district. Grounding ceremonies were also held for a Defence Energetics Facility and an Ammunition & Electric Fuses Plant at Madakasira in Sri Sathya Sai district.
In addition, a consortium of eight drone companies announced plans to establish a Drone City in Kurnool. Several companies also exchanged Memorandums of Understanding with the Andhra Pradesh government for setting up defence manufacturing units in the state.
Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh described the projects as a “historic beginning” and said that self-reliance in defence manufacturing has become essential in the current global environment. He said the projects would strengthen all three armed forces while advancing the country’s long-term goal of defence indigenisation and future readiness.
The Defence Minister said the initiatives would also emerge as major growth centres, generating employment opportunities and creating a strong ecosystem involving engineering colleges, ITIs, MSMEs and local industries. He noted that the projects would contribute significantly to the overall development of Andhra Pradesh.
The Core Integration and Flight Testing Centre, being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency, is a key component of the AMCA programme, which has an estimated outlay of around ₹15,000 crore. The facility itself is being established at an approximate cost of ₹2,000 crore.
Rajnath Singh said Puttaparthi would soon join the select group of global locations associated with the development of fifth-generation fighter aircraft. He described the AMCA programme as a milestone in India’s quest for cutting-edge indigenous military aviation capability.
The Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility, a ₹480 crore project by Bharat Dynamics Limited, will manufacture autonomous underwater vehicles, underwater countermeasure systems and next-generation torpedoes. The Defence Minister said the facility would strengthen India’s maritime security and reduce dependence on imports for critical naval systems.
The Defence Energetics Facility, being set up by Agneyastra Energetics Limited, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited, involves an investment of ₹1,500 crore and is expected to produce advanced defence systems for future warfare requirements.
The Ammunition and Electric Fuse Plant of HFCL Limited is being established with an investment of nearly ₹1,200 crore. Rajnath Singh said the facility would strengthen India’s self-reliance in ammunition manufacturing and significantly enhance the capabilities of the armed forces.
Speaking about the proposed Drone City in Kurnool, the Defence Minister called drone technology a game changer in modern warfare and emerging civilian sectors. He expressed confidence that the initiative would help position the region as India’s “Drone Hub”, similar to how Surat is known for diamonds and Bengaluru for technology.
Highlighting the government’s push for public-private collaboration in defence production, Rajnath Singh said India’s defence manufacturing value has increased from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹1.54 lakh crore today, while defence exports have risen from around ₹600 crore to nearly ₹40,000 crore.
He also urged citizens to remain vigilant against misinformation and rumours aimed at creating panic and instability, stressing that information warfare has become a growing challenge in the modern era.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Defence Minister for strengthening India’s defence preparedness through reforms, innovation and indigenisation. He said the projects would boost regional growth and further establish Andhra Pradesh as a major defence and aerospace manufacturing destination.
Naidu also referred to Operation Sindoor as an example of India’s technological advancement and growing strength in indigenous defence capabilities. He invited industries and entrepreneurs to “Design in Andhra Pradesh, Make in Andhra Pradesh and Lead from Andhra Pradesh,” assuring full support from the state government.