Puttaparthi : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday announced that India’s defence production is set to touch an all-time high of ₹1.75 lakh crore within the next one to two months, as the government accelerates its push towards self-reliance in the defence and aerospace sectors. The announcement came during the foundation stone laying and groundbreaking ceremonies for a series of strategic aerospace, naval, ammunition, and drone manufacturing projects in Andhra Pradesh, attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Among the key projects unveiled was the Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre at Puttaparthi for India’s ambitious Fifth-Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. Developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the facility is being established at an estimated cost of ₹2,000 crore and forms part of the broader ₹15,000 crore AMCA programme.
Calling the development “historic,” Rajnath Singh said the projects would strengthen the preparedness of all three armed forces while creating a robust ecosystem of employment, industrial growth, and technology-driven innovation in the state.
“Puttaparthi is set to join the exclusive league of global destinations from which a fifth-generation aircraft will take to the skies,” Singh said, adding that India’s pursuit of Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing has become a strategic necessity amid evolving geopolitical challenges. The Defence Minister also inaugurated the Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility of Bharat Dynamics Limited in Anakapalli district, a ₹480 crore project focused on advanced underwater weapon systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, and next-generation torpedoes. The facility is expected to reduce dependence on imports for critical naval components and enhance India’s maritime security capabilities.
Additionally, the Defence Energetics Facility by Agneyastra Energetics Limited, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited, is being established with an investment of ₹1,500 crore, while HFCL Limited is setting up an Ammunition and Electric Fuse Plant worth approximately ₹1,200 crore in Madakasira. A consortium of eight drone companies also announced the establishment of a dedicated Drone City in Kurnool, which Rajnath Singh described as a future “Drone Hub” of India, comparing its potential significance to Surat’s diamond industry and Bengaluru’s technology ecosystem.
Highlighting India’s rapid growth in defence manufacturing, Singh noted that the country’s defence production has surged from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹1.54 lakh crore currently, while defence exports have risen from around ₹600 crore a decade ago to approximately ₹40,000 crore today.Addressing concerns around misinformation and hybrid threats, the Defence Minister urged citizens to remain vigilant against rumours and false narratives that could destabilise the country. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu praised the Union Government’s focus on defence indigenisation and called upon industries and entrepreneurs to “Design-in-Andhra Pradesh, Make-in-Andhra Pradesh, lead-from-Andhra Pradesh,” assuring full support from the state government.