Union Minister for Defence Rajnath Singh on Friday laid the foundation stone for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project at Puttaparthi, describing Andhra Pradesh as an ‘Advanced Pradesh’, positioning the State at the centre of India’s next-generation defence manufacturing ecosystem. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also graced the occasion.
Addressing a large gathering after inaugurating the project, Mr. Singh described the AMCA initiative, developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), as a historic milestone in India’s defence journey. “The project will focus on developing fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft and advanced flight testing systems,” he said.
Praise for Naidu
Describing Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as a ‘great visionary leader’, Mr. Singh said he had “rarely seen a political leader with such deep focus on technology and development”. Mr. Naidu has played a vital role in attracting global technology investments and creating an industrial ecosystem capable of supporting futuristic defence projects, he said.
The Union Minister said that the Centre announced investments worth nearly ₹15,000 crore for aircraft integration and an advanced flight testing centre at Puttaparthi. “Only a handful of countries possess such sophisticated testing infrastructure,” he said, adding that India had now joined that league.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu looking at weapons at a defence product exhibition during the stone-laying ceremony for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district on Friday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Mr. Singh also launched projects involving Bharat Dynamics Limited, HFCL, Agniyastra, and multiple drone technology firms. “Bharat Dynamics Limited will establish facilities for autonomous underwater systems and torpedoes with an investment of ₹480 crore, while HFCL will manufacture electrical fuses with an outlay of ₹1,294 crore. Agniyastra, backed by Bharat Forge, will invest ₹1,500 crore in advanced weapon systems,” he said.
Highlighting the launch of a drone city in Kurnool involving eight companies, the Defence Minister termed drone technology as a game-changer in modern warfare as well as agriculture and civilian sectors. He observed that Kurnool had the potential to emerge as a global drone hub, as Bengaluru had become India’s Silicon Valley.
Defence exports
Stressing the need for self-reliance amid changing global security conditions, Mr. Singh said India could no longer depend on foreign nations for defence preparedness. “India’s defence production rose from ₹46,000 crore to ₹1.54 lakh crore in the past decade, while defence exports surged from ₹600 crore to nearly ₹40,000 crore,” the Union Minister added.