Rajnath Singh Unveils ₹20,000 Crore Aerospace and Weapon Projects in Andhra Pradesh

The AMCA programme, considered one of India’s most strategically important aerospace initiatives, carries a total projected outlay of approximately ₹15,000 crore.

India has launched one of its most ambitious defence manufacturing expansions in recent years, unveiling a sweeping cluster of aerospace, naval, ammunition and drone projects in Andhra Pradesh aimed at transforming the country into a global defence production powerhouse.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday laid foundation stones and presided over groundbreaking ceremonies for multiple strategic defence projects across the state, with combined investments running into tens of thousands of crores.

The projects include next-generation fighter aircraft testing infrastructure, advanced underwater naval systems manufacturing, defence energetics facilities, ammunition plants and a new "Drone City" initiative expected to position Andhra Pradesh as a major centre for high-technology defence innovation.

The launch marks a significant escalation of India's broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) strategy in the defence sector, as New Delhi seeks to reduce import dependence and strengthen indigenous military-industrial capabilities amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.

AMCA Fighter Jet Programme Receives Major Boost

At the centre of the announcement is the establishment of the Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre in Puttaparthi, a critical facility for the development of India's Fifth-Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The AMCA programme, considered one of India's most strategically important aerospace initiatives, carries a total projected outlay of approximately ₹15,000 crore.

The new testing centre — being established by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), an affiliate of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) — will be built at a cost of roughly ₹2,000 crore.

Rajnath Singh described the facility as a historic milestone in India's journey toward becoming one of the few nations capable of independently developing fifth-generation stealth combat aircraft.

"Puttaparthi is set to join the exclusive league of global destinations from which a fifth-generation aircraft will take to the skies," Singh said.

"It will become the birthplace of an aircraft capable of annihilating the enemy in the blink of an eye."

Defence analysts say the AMCA programme represents India's most advanced indigenous fighter development effort and is critical for maintaining long-term air superiority capabilities in an increasingly contested regional security environment.

Advanced Naval Weapons Facility to Strengthen Maritime Security

Another major announcement involves the establishment of the Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility at T Sirasapalli village in Anakapalli district.

The ₹480 crore project, spearheaded by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), will focus on the production of advanced underwater warfare systems including:

• Autonomous underwater vehicles

• Underwater counter-measure systems

• Next-generation torpedoes

• Critical naval sub-systems

The facility is expected to reduce India's reliance on imported naval technologies and significantly strengthen domestic maritime defence manufacturing capabilities.

Rajnath Singh said the project would become a "game-changer" for India's maritime security architecture and Blue Economy ambitions.

With growing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region, India has increasingly prioritised naval modernisation and indigenous underwater warfare systems.

Massive Investments in Ammunition and Defence Energetics

The defence expansion also includes the launch of the Defence Energetics Facility by Agneyastra Energetics Limited, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited, with an investment of approximately ₹1,500 crore.

The facility is expected to manufacture advanced weapons systems and energetics technologies aimed at preparing India's armed forces for future warfare scenarios.

In addition, HFCL Limited will establish a new Ammunition and Electric Fuse Plant with an investment of around ₹1,200 crore.

The plant will manufacture advanced ammunition fuses — regarded as one of the most critical technological components in modern munitions systems.

"The state-of-the-art fuses manufactured at the plant will significantly bolster the capabilities of our defence forces," Singh said.

Defence experts note that ammunition self-reliance has become a strategic priority globally following supply chain disruptions and ammunition shortages observed during recent international conflicts.

Andhra Pradesh Positioned as India's Emerging Drone Hub

In a major move aimed at strengthening India's drone ecosystem, a consortium of eight drone companies announced plans to establish a dedicated Drone City in Kurnool.

The initiative seeks to create an integrated drone manufacturing and innovation cluster capable of serving both military and civilian applications.

"Drone technology has emerged as a true game changer in modern warfare," Rajnath Singh said.

He predicted that Kurnool could emerge as India's national "Drone Hub," comparing its future status to Bengaluru's role as India's Silicon Valley.

The project reflects India's rapidly growing focus on unmanned systems, autonomous technologies and dual-use defence innovation.

Global defence experts increasingly view drones as one of the defining technologies of modern warfare, surveillance, logistics and border security.

Defence Production and Exports Reach Record Levels

During his address, Rajnath Singh highlighted the dramatic expansion of India's defence manufacturing sector over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

According to the Defence Minister:

• Defence production has risen from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹1.54 lakh crore today

• Production is expected to reach ₹1.75 lakh crore within months

• Defence exports have surged from approximately ₹600 crore a decade ago to nearly ₹40,000 crore currently

The figures underscore India's growing ambition to emerge not only as a major military power but also as a global defence exporter.

The government has increasingly opened the defence sector to:

• Private industry

• Start-ups

• MSMEs

• Innovation ecosystems

• Public-private partnerships

"The Public-Private Partnership model has successfully transformed defence manufacturing into a mass movement," Singh said.

Andhra Pradesh Emerging as Strategic Defence Manufacturing Corridor

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said Andhra Pradesh intends to position itself at the forefront of India's industrial and technological transformation.

"New Andhra Pradesh is being built with three strengths — Innovation, Infrastructure & Industrialisation," Naidu said.

He urged industries and entrepreneurs to:

"Design-in-Andhra Pradesh, Make-in-Andhra Pradesh, lead-from-Andhra Pradesh."

The Chief Minister said the projects would generate significant employment opportunities while strengthening the state's industrial ecosystem and advanced manufacturing capabilities.

National Security and Self-Reliance at Core of Strategy

Rajnath Singh framed the defence projects as essential to safeguarding India's national interests during a period of increasing geopolitical instability and technological competition.

"Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing is a critical imperative to safeguard national interests in the current era of global turbulence," he said.

He emphasised that India's long-term objective is to ensure the armed forces become fully future-ready through indigenous technology, manufacturing and innovation.

The projects are also expected to create large-scale economic spillover effects through:

• Supply chain development

• Engineering ecosystems

• Skill development

• Academic partnerships

• MSME participation

• High-technology employment

Government Warns Against Misinformation Threats

In an unusual but pointed warning, Rajnath Singh also cautioned citizens against misinformation campaigns that could be used to destabilise public confidence during sensitive periods.

"It isn't necessary that our adversaries try to attack us solely with weapons," he warned.

He stressed the importance of public vigilance against rumours and disinformation intended to create panic or social instability.

The comments reflect growing concern globally over information warfare and hybrid security threats alongside conventional military risks.

India's Defence Industrial Transformation Accelerates

The Andhra Pradesh announcements signal a major acceleration in India's transformation from one of the world's largest defence importers into a major indigenous manufacturing and export hub.

With increasing emphasis on:

• Aerospace innovation

• Naval modernisation

• Drone technology

• Ammunition self-reliance

• Public-private collaboration

• Advanced weapons systems

India is positioning defence manufacturing as both a strategic security priority and a key engine of industrial growth.

Analysts say the success of these projects could significantly reshape India's technological and military-industrial landscape over the next decade.