Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 16,000-crore Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) combat aircraft infrastructure project in Sri Sathya Sai district in the state, with the defence minister calling it a “historic chapter in India’s defence history”.Addressing a gathering at the stone-laying ceremony, Rajnath said, “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.”AMCA is India’s indigenous 5th-generation, twin-engine stealth multirole fighter programme designed for the IAF and Navy. It will be designed to compete with stealth fighter jets like US F-35, Chinese J-20, and Russian Su-57. Led by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), it features supercruise, internal weapons bays, and advanced AI, with the first prototype expected by 2028 and squadron induction targeted for 2035.The upcoming “facility for aircraft integration, testing, validation and certification would accelerate the development of the AMCA programme,” the defence ministry said.Rajnath noted that India is still dependent on other countries for its national security, underscoring the importance of the projects starting from today. 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.Praising the Andhra CM for his vision, technological focus and development-driven leadership during the AMCA stone-laying ceremony, Rajnath said, “In my view, when it comes to Mr Naidu, thinking small is simply impossible.”“And the commitment with which he has worked for the development of Andhra, I want to say with conviction that it has been appreciated not only in India but also on international forums,” he said.CM Naidu said the AMCA project reflects the state’s “speed of doing business” as Andhra aims to emerge as a major defence manufacturing hub. Speaking at the ceremony, he said the project would strengthen India’s indigenous defence capabilities and support Atmanirbhar Bharat in the aerospace sector.He also described “Operation Sindoor” as an example of India’s growing technological strength, according to the Andhra CMO.The project also includes a flight testing centre, naval systems facility, defence energetics units, ammunition plants and drone city infrastructure projects. Both the leaders also reviewed a defence exhibition showcasing missiles, firearms and a fighter aircraft prototype.
