Rs 15,000 crore Stealth Fighter project set for AP

Metro India News | AMARAVATI :

Andhra Pradesh is poised to make a significant entry into India’s high-technology defence manufacturing landscape, with a major aerospace project set to take shape in Sri Sathya Sai district. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to establish a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft manufacturing facility at Puttaparthi with an estimated investment of Rs 15,000 crore.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is expected to lay the foundation stone for this prestigious project on May 15, marking a milestone in the state’s industrial and defence sector ambitions. The project is expected to significantly enhance Andhra Pradesh’s strategic importance in India’s defence ecosystem.

The facility will focus on manufacturing the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter programme. These next-generation aircraft are being developed with cutting-edge technologies and are intended for deployment by the Indian Air Force and Navy. The AMCA is also expected to eventually replace ageing fleets such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

The state government has already allocated 600 acres of land for the project, with an additional 400 acres earmarked for future expansion. Officials aim to complete initial construction swiftly, targeting the rollout of the first prototype by 2029 and full-scale production by 2035.

Beyond this flagship project, Sri Sathya Sai district is rapidly evolving into a defence and aerospace hub. The Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is setting up a Defence Systems Integration Complex at Palasamudram with an investment of Rs 500 crore across 1,000 acres. Additionally, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited is developing a defence energetics manufacturing facility in Madakasira with an investment of Rs 2,500 crore.

The region’s proximity, about 130 km, to Bengaluru’s international airport, along with the presence of an operational airport at Puttaparthi, enhances its attractiveness for large-scale industrial projects. With limited expansion opportunities around Bengaluru, defence and aerospace firms are increasingly looking towards Andhra Pradesh.