Rajnath, Naidu lay foundation stone for combat aircraft project in Andhra
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 16,000 crore combat aircraft infrastructure project in Sri Sathya Sai district. Rajnath Singh said it marks a historic chapter in India’s defence history, adding that a new era was starting in Andhra Pradesh.
The two leaders laid the foundation for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme infrastructure. “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. Beside them, eight drone companies are also starting a drone city in Kurnool,” Rajnath Singh said, addressing a public meeting.
Observing that the world is facing many challenges today, he said that during these difficult times, if we can stand with our own strength, then we can defend ourselves powerfully.
However, the Defence Minister noted that India is still dependent on other countries for its national security, underscoring the importance of the projects starting from today.
Noting that the project in Puttaparthi was being developed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which is a part of the DRDO, the defence minister said it is developing the fifth-generation AMCA fighter jet.
With an investment of nearly Rs 16,000 crore, he said an aircraft integration and advanced flight-testing centre is being developed, noting that such facilities are owned only by a few countries.
Reflecting on other projects, Rajnath Singh said Bharat Dynamics Limited will manufacture advanced autonomous underwater systems, torpedoes and countermeasure systems with an investment of Rs 480 crore.
He noted that several defence systems earlier imported from foreign countries would now be manufactured domestically, strengthening coastal security, naval capabilities and the blue economy.
He further said Agneyastra, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge, would manufacture advanced weapon systems for future warfare requirements with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore, while HFCL would establish electrical fuse manufacturing facilities with an investment of Rs 1,294 crore.
Rajnath Singh said a consortium of eight drone companies was jointly establishing a Drone City in Kurnool under the Make in India initiative.
He described drone technology as a game-changer in modern warfare while also highlighting its applications in agriculture and several civilian sectors.
Chief Minister Naidu said Andhra Pradesh will emerge as the defence shield of the country with the emergence of several related facilities.
Highlighting the significance of the AMCA project, he stated that the initiative would showcase the capabilities of India’s defence sector and strengthen indigenous combat aircraft manufacturing using homegrown technology.
The chief minister noted that the AMCA project being established on nearly 650 acres of land in Puttaparthi would pave the way for the development of a dedicated township and generate employment opportunities for around 7,500 people.
Along with the AMCA project, the two leaders also laid the foundation for a few more defence and drone city projects.
Following the foundation stone laying event, the leaders visited a display of missiles, hand grenades, advanced guns, a fighter jet prototype and other defence products.
