Rajnath to lay stone for AMCA facility in Puttaparthi

Tirupati: In a major step to boost India’s indigenous defence and aerospace capabilities, defence minister Rajnath Singh will lay the foundation stone for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme facility at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district on Friday. Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu will also attend the event.The facility, to be set up by the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will house the Core Integration, Development and Flight Testing Complex for India’s flagship fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme.The AMCA programme aims to enhance India’s self-reliance in next-generation combat aviation technologies, including stealth systems, advanced avionics and integrated combat capabilities.Spread over nearly 650 acres, the project involves an estimated investment of ₹15,803 crore. The proposed complex will serve as a national hub for aircraft integration, validation, flight testing and certification, strengthening India’s strategic aerospace infrastructure and reducing reliance on external ecosystems.The Andhra Pradesh govt has supported the project through land allotment, infrastructure, and fast-tracked approvals. The facility is expected to generate nearly 7,500 high-skilled direct jobs and spur the growth of a broader aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem in Rayalaseema.Sri Sathya Sai district has emerged as a promising hub for aerospace-linked investments, aided by its proximity to Bengaluru’s aerospace ecosystem, including Kempegowda International Airport and key defence establishments.Along with the AMCA facility, foundation stones will be laid for projects by several firms, including Premier Explosives Limited, Agneyastra Energetics Limited, Drogo Drones, Dronelab Technologies, HC Robotics, SenseImage Technologies, Aerpace Industries, JDK Fly Drone World and Latrics Aerospace.Additionally, nine more companies are set to sign MoUs with the state govt in the defence and aerospace sector, reinforcing Andhra Pradesh’s push as a key destination for strategic manufacturing and innovation-led industrial growth.