India's DRDO Secures Land in Andhra Pradesh for ₹1 Lakh Crore AMCA Stealth Fighter Hub

India has formally approved a ₹1 lakh crore stealth‑fighter hub in Andhra Pradesh. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) secured 600 acres in Puttaparthi to build a dedicated manufacturing and flight‑testing complex for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth‑generation jet designed to give India a strategic edge in the Indo‑Pacific.

The initial phase will assemble around 140 AMCA aircraft, with plans to expand the site by a further 400 acres. Anchor firms such as Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Forge will lead production, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will supply subsystems and integration support. The project aims for a prototype by 2028‑29 and full‑scale production by 2035, targeting up to 250 aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

The Ministry of Defence gave in‑principle approval for an accompanying flight‑testing and integration complex after consultations between the Andhra Pradesh state government and the Centre, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The hub is intended to bolster India’s defence self‑reliance and counter regional advances by China’s J‑20 and Russia’s Su‑57.