Stone laid for 5th-Generation combat aircraft testing centre in Andhra's Puttaparthi

Hyderabad: Defence minister, Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday laid the foundation stone for Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre at Puttaparthi to fast-track the development of Fifth-Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and other future indigenous platforms, and the Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility that will come up at T Sirasapalli village in Anakapalli district to cater to the requirements of advanced underwater weapon and naval combat systems.

The total outlay for the AMCA programme is around Rs 15,000 crore, and the Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre of Aeronautical Development Agency, an affiliate organisation of DRDO, is a vital component of the project. The facility is being established at a cost of approximately Rs 2,000 crore.

“Puttaparthi is set to join the exclusive league of global destinations from which a fifth-generation aircraft will take to the skies. It will become the birthplace of an aircraft capable of annihilating the enemy in the blink of an eye,” said Rajnath Singh.

The grounding ceremonies were carried out for the Defence Energetics Facility and the Ammunition & Electric Fuses Plant at Madakasira in Sri Satya Sai District. In addition, a consortium of eight drone companies have joined forces to establish a Drone City in Kurnool. Various companies also exchanged MoUs with the government of Andhra Pradesh to establish defence units in the state.

Rajanath Singh described the commencement of the projects as “truly historic”, asserting that Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing is a critical imperative to safeguard national interests in the current era of global turbulence. He stated that, in matters of national security, the aim must be to achieve self-reliance rather than perpetual dependence on other nations.

“These projects will cater to all the branches of the defence forces. This strategic diversification is not coincidental. Our objective is crystal clear. We are advancing with the resolute goal of achieving self-reliance in the defence sector, ensuring that the three Services are future-ready. The projects will prove to be a milestone in the nation’s pursuit of self-reliance and Andhra Pradesh’s journey of development,” said Rajnath Singh.

The defence minister added that these projects will serve as powerful “Growth Poles”, resulting in massive employment generation. “The local academic institutions, including engineering colleges and ITIs, will become integral parts of this initiative. Robust supply chains will be established, and small-scale industries will flourish. The local youth will gain a platform to work, learn, and grow within the realm of high-end technology. This will foster the development of an entire ecosystem, which will play a key role in the holistic development of the state,” he said.

The Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility, a Rs 480 crore project of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), will focus on autonomous underwater vehicles, underwater countermeasure systems, and next-generation torpedoes. It will manufacture several critical components and subsystems that the nation has, until now, been importing from abroad. Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that the project will significantly enhance the Indian Navy's capabilities and prove to be a game-changer for the nation’s Blue Economy and maritime security.

The Defence Energetics Facility of Agneyastra Energetics Limited, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited, is being set-up with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore. Rajnath Singh hoped that the facility will produce weapons that will bolster India’s preparedness for the battles of the future.

The Ammunition and Electric Fuse Plant of HFCL Limited, is being established with an investment of around Rs 1,200 crore.

Terming ‘fuse’ as the most critical component of any ammunition, the defence minister expressed confidence that the project will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s journey towards self-reliance in ammunition manufacturing. “The state-of-the-art fuses manufactured at the plant will significantly bolster the capabilities of our defence forces,” he said.

On the upcoming Drone City, Rajnath Singh commended the young entrepreneurs for their collaborative vision, and said that these units, though individually small in scale, are vital components which will transform the vision of Make-in-India into a tangible reality.

“Drone technology has emerged as a true game changer in modern warfare. Moreover, its role is rapidly expanding across other sectors. I am confident that the drones produced here will carry India’s banner of excellence across the globe. Just as Surat is known as the ‘Diamond City’ and Bengaluru as India’s ‘Silicon Valley,’ this region will soon be recognised as the ‘Drone Hub’ of the nation,” he said.