Rajnath, Naidu lay foundation stone for combat aircraft unit in Andhra

The AMCA-linked infrastructure project in Andhra Pradesh is expected to strengthen India's indigenous military aviation ecosystem and generate 7,500 jobs

In a major boost to India’s indigenous military aviation ecosystem, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday laid the foundation stone for an infrastructure project to develop the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) in Sri Sathya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh.

 

The leaders inaugurated the core integration and flight testing centre at Puttaparthi to accelerate development of the fifth-generation AMCA and other future indigenous platforms. They also laid foundation stone for the naval systems manufacturing facility aimed at supporting advanced underwater weapon and naval combat systems.

 

The AMCA facility, being established at an approximate cost of ₹2,000 crore, is  part of the state government’s broader “Drone City” and aerospace manufacturing push. The project is expected to generate employment for nearly 7,500 people. The overall cost of the AMCA development programme is estimated at around ₹15,000 crore.

 

 

The infrastructure is expected to support manufacturing, integration, and aerospace component production linked to next-generation combat aviation programmes. The project will include defence industrial facilities and supporting aerospace infrastructure in the region.

 

“A new era is starting today in Andhra Pradesh’s history and a historic chapter is being written in India’s defence history. Four major projects are starting in today’s foundation stone-laying ceremony. Besides them, eight drone companies are also starting a drone city in Kurnool,” Rajnath Singh said at a public meeting.

 

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said Andhra Pradesh is poised to become a major hub in India’s defence ecosystem as multiple aerospace and defence manufacturing facilities are being set up in the state.

 

He added that the project, spread across nearly 650 acres, is expected to drive the development of an integrated aerospace township while creating employment opportunities for nearly 7,500 people.

 

Besides this, Singh and Naidu also laid the foundation stone for some other defence and drone city projects.

 

What is AMCA?

 

The AMCA is a proposed fifth-generation stealth fighter jet designed for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The twin-engine aircraft is intended to combine stealth features, internal weapons bays, advanced sensors, electronic warfare systems, and network-centric warfare capabilities.

 

The aircraft is expected to replace the ageing fleet of fighter aircraft over the coming decade and will serve as an advanced multirole platform for the IAF.

 

The AMCA Mk-1 variant is expected to use the US-based General Electric’s F414 engine, while a more powerful engine may power Mk-2 versions. The fighter is planned in multiple variants and is expected to feature artificial intelligence-assisted systems, sensor fusion, and advanced stealth coatings.

 

The development comes as India accelerates efforts to reduce dependence on imported fighter aircraft and build an indigenous stealth fighter under the AMCA programme. The AMCA programme is being led by the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with manufacturing expected to involve participation from the private sector as well.

 

According to media reports, the DRDO earlier shortlisted three private-sector contenders  for prototype development, including Tata Advanced Systems Limited as a standalone bidder, a consortium led by Larsen & Toubro with Bharat Electronics Limited, and another consortium led by Bharat Forge Ltd.