Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the foundation stone for the AMCA program infrastructure worth Rs 15,803 crore in Sri Sathya Sai district on May 15.

The ceremony for laying the foundation stone will signify the initiation of multiple defence, aerospace, and drone production projects designed to enhance Andhra Pradesh’s status in high-tech manufacturing industries.

“The press release stated that Singh and Naidu will lay the foundation stone for the Rs 15,803 crore infrastructure of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft program at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district on May 15, alongside the unveiling of several defence and drone manufacturing initiatives throughout the state.”

The event coincides with the Government of India’s goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), focused on fostering self-sufficiency and the swift indigenization of cutting-edge defence technologies.

The AMCA initiative, created collaboratively by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), will span more than 650 acres and is seen as India’s premier domestic fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft project.

The initiative will showcase stealth technology, twin-engine supercruise capability, and sophisticated avionics systems, marking one of the nation's leading aerospace efforts, it stated.

In addition to producing fighter jets, the project is intended to support testing operations at the same site and aims to create around 7,500 jobs.

In addition to the foundation-laying ceremony, the event will host an AMCA exhibition and technology showcase, highlighting scale models, mission simulations, avionics and systems displays, as well as interactive defence technology areas.

The state government has also designated 400 acres for support industries associated with the AMCA ecosystem, which are expected to draw investments totaling nearly Rs 1 lakh crore.

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In addition to the AMCA initiative, groundwork will also be established for four defense manufacturing projects and eight drone-sector initiatives, together representing investments of Rs 4,145 crore and creating jobs for 6,071 individuals.

The defense initiatives encompass units suggested by Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, HFCL, and Premier Explosives, covering missiles, ammunition, energetics, defense propellants, and advanced manufacturing systems.

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At the same time, Andhra Pradesh will highlight its expanding drone ecosystem in Kurnool district, including firms involved in autonomous systems, AI-driven drones, UAV production, robotics, surveillance tech, aerospace parts, and drone research and development.

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According to reports, "The Andhra Pradesh Government has been strategically promoting the state as an ideal location for high-tech manufacturing industries by utilizing its industrial infrastructure, port connectivity, skilled labor, and investor-friendly policies."