Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today laid the foundation stones for four major defence projects in Andhra Pradesh, alongside the establishment of a “Drone City” in Kurnool by a consortium of eight drone companies. The defence minister, along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for a range of strategic aerospace and defence projects.
The ceremonies, held at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district, with some facilities coming up in other districts, mark a significant push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
आज इस Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony में, चार प्रमुख projects शुरू हो रहे हैं। इसके अलावा, आठ ड्रोन कंपनियों का एक समूह मिलकर, कुरनूल में एक ‘Drone City’ भी establish कर रहा है। कुल मिलाकर, आंध्र प्रदेश के विकास की दिशा में, आज का दिन, एक milestone सिद्ध होगा, ऐसा मेरा विश्वास…
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 15, 2026
The four key projects for which foundation stones were laid are:
Aircraft Integration and Flight Testing Centre for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme
Developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), this facility will support integration, validation, flight testing, and certification of India’s indigenous 5th-generation stealth fighter jet. Primarily serving the Indian Air Force, it is expected to accelerate the AMCA programme on a large site in Puttaparthi.
The total outlay for the AMCA programme is around ₹15,000 crore, and the Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre of Aeronautical Development Agency, an affiliate organisation of DRDO, is a vital component of the project. The facility is being established at a cost of around ₹2,000 crore.
Spread across nearly 650 acres in Puttaparthi, the proposed complex will serve as a national hub for aircraft integration, validation, flight testing and certification activities. The project is expected to generate nearly 7,500 high-skilled direct employment opportunities over its lifecycle and catalyse the growth of a wider aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem in the Rayalaseema region.
Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
A ₹480 crore project of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), this project will focus on autonomous underwater vehicles, underwater counter-measure systems, and next-generation torpedoes. It will manufacture several critical components and sub-systems that the nation has, until now, been importing from abroad.
Located at T Sirasapalli village in Anakapalli district, it strengthens maritime defence capabilities. The complex will be set up to meet the growing requirements of advanced underwater weapon systems and naval combat systems.
Ammunition and Fuse Manufacturing Facilities by HFCL
The Ammunition and Electric Fuse Plant of HFCL Limited, is being established with an investment of around ₹1,200 crore. These units will produce ammunition and fuses for all three services, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy, enhancing combat readiness across the armed forces.
The state-of-the-art fuses manufactured at the plant will significantly bolster the capabilities of our defence forces
Drone City in Kurnool
A consortium of eight drone companies have joined forces to establish a Drone City in Kurnool, which will serve as a dedicated hub for drone manufacturing and innovation. Several projects related to drone manufacturing, research, training, and technology development have been launched in the Drone City. The state government has already held discussions with drone startups and defence companies, aiming to make Kurnool a major hub for drone technology.
Addressing the event, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the strategic importance of the occasion. He stated that the day would prove to be a “milestone” in the development of Andhra Pradesh, with four major projects commencing alongside the Drone City. He said, “Puttaparthi is set to join the exclusive league of global destinations from which a fifth-generation aircraft will take to the skies. It will become the birthplace of an aircraft capable of annihilating the enemy in the blink of an eye.”
Rajnath Singh stated that Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing is a critical imperative to safeguard national interests in the current era of global turbulence. The defence minister said that in matters of national security, the aim must be to achieve self-reliance rather than perpetual dependence on other nations.
He emphasised the collaborative nature of the initiative: “It is a matter of great significance that on a single occasion, we are developing facilities simultaneously for the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy. The AMCA Flight Testing Centre is generally for the Indian Air Force, BDL’s Underwater Systems for the Indian Navy, HFCL’s Ammunition and Fuse for all three services, and Drone Technology is useful in all sectors.”
Praising the role of young entrepreneurs, the Minister said: “I also specially congratulate our young entrepreneurs because eight drone companies are collectively building a ‘Drone City’ in Kurnool. These small but important units will turn the ‘Make in India’ vision into reality.”
He described drone technology as a “game changer” in modern warfare, while noting its growing role in the economy and agriculture. Singh expressed confidence that drones produced from this hub would “wave India’s flag across the world,” predicting that the region would soon be known as India’s “Drone Hub,” akin to Surat’s diamond city or Bengaluru’s Silicon Valley.
The minister highlighted that, over the past 10 years, the Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has strived to bridge the divide between the public and private sectors. He added that, today, the nation is moving forward not merely with a Whole of Government approach, but with a Whole of Country and Whole of People approach. “Be it an individual innovator, a large corporation, a start-up, or an MSME, everyone is contributing to national security. The Public-Private Partnership model has successfully transformed defence manufacturing into a mass movement,” he said.
Listing out the progress achieved due to the Government’s efforts, Rajnath Singh stated that the defence production has risen to an all-time high of nearly ₹1.54 lakh crore from just ₹46,000 crore in 2014. He expressed confidence that the defence production will reach an all-time high figure of ₹1.75 lakh crore within one or two months. He added that defence exports, which were around ₹600 crore a decade ago, have touched a record approx. Rs 40,000 crore today.
The Defence Minister also urged the people to remain vigilant in the present era of misinformation. “It isn’t necessary that our adversaries try to attack us solely with weapons. They may attempt to cause harm by spreading rumors or misinformation. They might spread rumors claiming that the country has run out of oil, or a calamity is about to befall the nation. This is done with the specific intent of creating chaos and anarchy in the country. We must remain extremely vigilant as a single piece of misinformation can prove to be harmful. If the Prime Minister has advised us to utilise public transport or conserve fuel, it should be viewed in the spirit of advice,” he said.
