5th-Gen combat aircraft to be assembled & tested in Andhra; Land earmarked in Puttaparthi

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh is set to become a strategic hub for India's most advanced indigenous fighter aircraft programme, with the state government formally issuing orders to support the establishment of an Aircraft Integration and Flight Testing Complex at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district.

The complex will serve as the primary assembly and testing site for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation, multi-role, all-weather stealth fighter being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The union government recently approved the AMCA Programme, which will be executed through an industry partnership model.

As part of its commitment, the Andhra Pradesh government will allocate 150 acres adjoining the Puttaparthi runway for the flight testing complex, along with an additional 200 acres for a satellite office complex and residential township. The runway will be extended to 10,000 feet, and critical aviation infrastructure including an ATC tower, navigation aids, and meteorological support systems will be developed.

The state will also facilitate the creation of a dedicated Local Flying Zone in coordination with the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Defence, and the Indian Air Force.

The project has received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Defence following sustained engagement between the state and central governments, and aligns with the national Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative as well as Andhra Pradesh's Defence and Aerospace Policy 4.0.

In a parallel boost to the broader aerospace ecosystem, the government has authorised the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to develop industrial land banks in the surrounding region, with 300 acres earmarked for private industry partners to set up aerospace and defence manufacturing facilities. The integrated hub is expected to draw investment across avionics, propulsion systems, precision engineering, unmanned aerial platforms, advanced materials, and defence electronics with significant opportunities projected for MSMEs, suppliers, skilling institutions, and research bodies.

The Government Order also authorised the Industries and Commerce Department to execute MoUs and institutional coordination mechanisms with ADA, DRDO, and the Ministry of Defence for expeditious implementation of the project.

ADA, established in 1984 to oversee development of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, has since expanded its mandate to include the LCA Mk1A and Mk2 variants, the AMCA, and the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF). The Puttaparthi complex will support these and future unmanned aerial systems programmes, reinforcing Andhra Pradesh's emergence as a leading national destination for aerospace and advanced defence manufacturing, said a senior government official.