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Andhra Pradesh is set to strengthen its aerospace and defence ecosystem with the proposed Aircraft Integration and Flight Testing Complex at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district. The facility, linked to India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, will support aircraft assembly, integration and flight testing activities for indigenous fighter jets and unmanned systems. The project has received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Defence and is expected to attract investments of nearly INR 1 lakh crore over time. The state government has also committed land allocation, runway expansion and aviation infrastructure support for the strategic defence project.
Andhra Pradesh has secured a major Aircraft Integration and Flight Testing Complex for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme at Puttaparthi, marking a significant step in the state’s push towards aerospace and defence manufacturing. The proposed facility will be developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) framework and is expected to support aircraft assembly, systems integration and flight testing activities for indigenous fighter aircraft programmes. Advertisement
The development follows discussions between the Andhra Pradesh government and the Ministry of Defence under the Centre’s broader self-reliance push in defence manufacturing. Officials associated with the project stated that the facility would support not only the AMCA programme but also future indigenous aircraft and unmanned aerial systems projects.
Under the proposed plan, the state government will allocate around 350 acres for the project. Nearly 150 acres adjoining the existing Puttaparthi airport runway have been identified for the core testing and integration complex, while another 200 acres are expected to be used for office infrastructure, residential facilities and support services. Some reports also indicated that close to 600 acres have been identified in phases for the larger aerospace and defence ecosystem planned around the facility.
The Andhra Pradesh government has also assured infrastructure support for the project, including extension of the runway to around 10,000 feet along with development of an Air Traffic Control tower, navigation systems and weather monitoring infrastructure required for advanced aircraft testing operations. Coordination with the Indian Air Force and civil aviation authorities is also expected for creating dedicated flying zones around the region for testing activities.
The proposed complex is expected to become an important facility for India’s AMCA programme, which aims to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Reports stated that the AMCA programme is expected to manufacture nearly 140 aircraft in phases. The first prototype is likely to be ready between late 2026 and early 2027, while the first flight is expected by 2028.
Puttaparthi was considered suitable for the project due to its strategic location and proximity to Bengaluru, which already houses several aerospace and defence organisations including HAL, DRDO laboratories and private aerospace companies. Industry experts believe this connectivity could help create a wider aerospace manufacturing corridor across southern India.
The state government has also directed the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation to begin work on industrial land banks around the proposed facility. Around 300 acres are expected to be reserved for private aerospace and defence manufacturing units involved in avionics, defence electronics, propulsion systems, precision engineering and advanced materials manufacturing.
The project is also expected to generate opportunities for MSMEs, component suppliers, engineering firms, research institutions and skill development centres linked to the defence and aviation sectors. Industry observers believe the facility could gradually help Andhra Pradesh emerge as an important defence manufacturing destination alongside existing aerospace hubs in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
India has been steadily increasing investments in indigenous defence and aerospace capabilities over the last few years through programmes linked to Tejas fighter aircraft, unmanned combat aerial vehicles and advanced defence electronics systems. The proposed Puttaparthi facility is expected to support these long-term plans while reducing dependence on foreign integration and testing infrastructure.
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