New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu have jointly presided over foundation stone laying and grounding ceremonies for a wide range of strategic aerospace and defence manufacturing projects in Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant expansion of India’s domestic defence production ecosystem.
The events were held at Puttaparthi in Sri Satya Sai district, along with project sites in Anakapalli and Kurnool, covering aerospace, naval systems, energetics, ammunition, and drone manufacturing sectors.
According to an official statement, the foundation stone was laid for the Core Integration and Flight Testing Centre at Puttaparthi, which will support the development and testing of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme and other indigenous next-generation aerial platforms. The facility is being developed under the Defence Research and Development Organisation ecosystem through its Aeronautical Development Agency.
The programme, estimated to involve an overall investment of around Rs 15,000 crore, includes a key testing infrastructure component valued at approximately Rs 2,000 crore. Authorities indicated that the centre is expected to strengthen India’s capability in fifth-generation fighter aircraft development and reduce dependence on foreign technology.
In parallel, groundwork was initiated for a Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility at T Sirasapalli in Anakapalli district. The project, associated with Bharat Dynamics Limited and valued at around Rs 480 crore, will focus on underwater weapons systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, counter-measure technologies, and next-generation torpedoes aimed at strengthening maritime defence capabilities.
Another major development included the Defence Energetics Facility at Madakasira, being established by Agneyastra Energetics Limited, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited, with an investment of approximately Rs 1,500 crore. Officials indicated that the facility is expected to enhance domestic production capacity for advanced energetic materials used in modern weapon systems.
Additionally, an Ammunition and Electric Fuse Plant being set up by HFCL Limited at an investment of around Rs 1,200 crore was also grounded. Authorities said the plant would focus on producing critical fuse systems and ammunition components that are currently largely imported, thereby strengthening self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
In Kurnool, a consortium of eight drone companies announced plans for a dedicated “Drone City” aimed at building an integrated ecosystem for drone research, design, manufacturing, and deployment. Officials indicated that the initiative is expected to position the region as a national hub for unmanned aerial systems.
During the events, Rajnath Singh conveyed that the projects represent a major step toward defence self-reliance and are aligned with the broader national objective of reducing import dependency while strengthening indigenous capability across all three armed services. He is also understood to have highlighted that the projects are expected to generate significant employment opportunities and stimulate local industrial ecosystems, including engineering institutions, MSMEs, and startups.
He further indicated that the initiatives would function as long-term growth drivers for the state by creating integrated supply chains and enabling skill development in high-end defence technologies.
Officials also noted that over the past decade, defence production in India has increasingly shifted toward a collaborative public-private model, with participation from large corporations, startups, and smaller industrial units contributing to the broader “Make in India” framework for defence manufacturing.
