Puttaparthi

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project reflects the state’s “speed of doing business” as Andhra Pradesh pushes to emerge as a major defence manufacturing hub.

Speaking at Puttaparthi during the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Naidu said the project would highlight India’s growing capabilities in indigenous defence technology and strengthen domestic combat aircraft manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

The event was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and state minister Nara Lokesh, who jointly laid the foundation stone for the project in Puttaparthi.

Key highlights of the AMCA project:

• Investment of ₹15,803 crore
• Spread across nearly 650 acres
• Expected to generate around 7,500 jobs
• Will support aircraft integration, testing, validation and certification for India’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter programme

Alongside the AMCA facility, multiple defence-linked projects were also launched, including:

• Naval systems manufacturing
• Defence energetics facilities
• Ammunition plants
• Drone City infrastructure projects

According to India’s Ministry of Defence, the AMCA Aircraft Integration and Flight Testing Centre will accelerate development of India’s indigenous stealth fighter programme and strengthen self-reliance in advanced aerospace technologies.

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Naidu described the initiative as a major step toward transforming Andhra Pradesh into one of India’s leading aerospace and defence manufacturing corridors, with the Rayalaseema region positioned as a strategic extension of the southern aerospace ecosystem.