Andhra Pradesh has secured a major aerospace and defence infrastructure project after extending full state support for the establishment of an Aircraft Integration and Flight Testing Complex for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district.
The facility will be developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Defence Research and Development Organisation and is expected to support aircraft assembly, systems integration and flight testing activities linked to India’s next-generation combat aviation programmes.
According to details released by the state government, the project has already received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Defence following discussions between the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Centre.
The initiative forms part of India’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat strategy aimed at strengthening indigenous aerospace and defence manufacturing capabilities.
Under the approved framework, the Andhra Pradesh government will provide extensive infrastructure and land support for the proposed aerospace complex.
The commitments include:
The state will also facilitate approvals for the creation of a dedicated Local Flying Zone in coordination with:
The proposed infrastructure is intended to support future testing requirements for advanced combat aircraft and unmanned aerial systems being developed domestically.
The complex is expected to become a strategic asset for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme, one of the country’s flagship indigenous defence aviation projects.
The AMCA programme aims to develop a next-generation stealth combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force as part of India’s long-term defence modernisation plans.
According to the state government, the proposed facility will support:
The project is also expected to strengthen collaboration between aerospace research agencies, defence manufacturers and aviation technology partners.
In a parallel move, the Andhra Pradesh government has authorised the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation to begin developing industrial land banks surrounding the proposed testing complex.
The plan includes:
According to the government, the integrated aerospace ecosystem is expected to attract investments across several segments, including:
The project is also expected to generate opportunities for:
The project aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s Defence and Aerospace Policy 4.0, which aims to position the state as a major destination for aerospace manufacturing and advanced engineering industries.
The government order authorises the state’s Industries and Commerce Department to execute required agreements and institutional coordination mechanisms with:
The objective is to accelerate implementation and operationalisation of the facility in Andhra Pradesh.
The state has increasingly sought to position itself within India’s evolving defence manufacturing landscape by attracting aerospace, electronics and advanced engineering investments.
The establishment of the proposed flight testing and integration complex reflects India’s broader push to expand domestic aerospace infrastructure and reduce dependence on imported defence platforms.
The AMCA programme represents one of the country’s most ambitious indigenous combat aviation initiatives, requiring specialised testing, assembly and systems integration capabilities.
The development at Puttaparthi is expected to contribute to India’s long-term aerospace ecosystem by supporting advanced manufacturing, research collaboration and defence technology development.
With the project now receiving formal state backing and defence ministry approval in principle, Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as an emerging centre for next-generation aerospace and defence industrial activity in India.
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