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In a landmark moment for India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh today laid the foundation stone for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme facility in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh. Accompanied by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Minister inaugurated what will become the primary integration and flight-testing hub for India’s first indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. The project, managed by the DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency, is spread across a massive 650-acre site and carries an estimated investment of ₹15,803 crore. This facility is designed to provide the infrastructure necessary for the super-cruise capability, advanced avionics, and stealth technology that will define the AMCA. Beyond its military significance, the project is a massive economic driver for the region, expected to generate approximately 7,500 direct jobs and attract nearly one lakh crore in ancillary industrial investments. During the ceremony, the Defense Minister also laid foundation stones for several drone and aerospace projects, signaling a comprehensive shift toward high-tech indigenous manufacturing. The AMCA facility represents India’s bid to join a select group of nations capable of producing fifth-generation combat aircraft, significantly reducing future reliance on foreign defense imports. This move is seen as a strategic response to evolving regional security threats and a leap forward for the Indian Air Force’s modernization.
