Rajnath Singh Launches Mega Defence Projects in Andhra
AMCA testing centre, naval systems facility and Drone City projects unveiled in Andhra Pradesh
- Rajnath Singh and Chandrababu Naidu launch major defence projects
- AMCA flight testing centre to come up in Puttaparthi
- Eight companies collaborate to establish Drone City in Kurnool
- Defence production expected to touch Rs 1.75 lakh crore soon
GG News Bureau
PUTTAPARTHI, 15th May: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday laid foundation stones and launched multiple strategic aerospace and defence manufacturing projects in Andhra Pradesh aimed at boosting indigenous defence production and employment generation.
The projects include the Core Integration and Flight Testing Centre for India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme at Puttaparthi and a Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility at Anakapalli district.
The Defence Minister described the projects as “historic” and said self-reliance in defence manufacturing is critical for safeguarding national interests amid global uncertainties.
“These projects will cater to all branches of the defence forces and strengthen India’s journey towards Aatmanirbharta in defence,” Singh said.
The AMCA Core Integration and Flight Testing Centre, being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency, is part of the Rs 15,000 crore AMCA programme and is being established at an estimated cost of around Rs 2,000 crore.
Singh said Puttaparthi would become one of the few global locations associated with the development of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
The Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility of Bharat Dynamics Limited, being developed at a cost of Rs 480 crore, will focus on autonomous underwater vehicles, underwater counter-measure systems and next-generation torpedoes.
Grounding ceremonies were also held for the Defence Energetics Facility of Agneyastra Energetics Limited and the Ammunition and Electric Fuse Plant of HFCL Limited with combined investments exceeding Rs 2,700 crore.
In another major announcement, a consortium of eight drone companies joined hands to establish a Drone City in Kurnool aimed at promoting indigenous drone manufacturing and technology development.
Rajnath Singh said drone technology had become a game changer in modern warfare and predicted that the region would soon emerge as India’s “Drone Hub.”
The Defence Minister highlighted the rise in India’s defence production from Rs 46,000 crore in 2014 to nearly Rs 1.54 lakh crore currently and said the figure is expected to touch Rs 1.75 lakh crore within the next one or two months.
He also noted that defence exports had increased from around Rs 600 crore a decade ago to nearly Rs 40,000 crore today.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh was positioning itself as a major hub for innovation, industrialisation and defence manufacturing and assured full support to industries investing in the state.
