SOURCE: AFI
In a bold move to bolster Andhra Pradesh’s role in India’s defense manufacturing ecosystem, Chief Minister and key National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally N. Chandrababu Naidu has proposed relocating the production of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) from Congress-ruled Karnataka to his state. Naidu has offered 10,000 acres of land in the Lepakshi-Madakasira hub, strategically located just an hour’s drive from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.
The AMCA, India’s ambitious project to develop a twin-engine, stealth-capable multirole fighter, is a cornerstone of the nation’s push for self-reliance in defense under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Currently, HAL’s operations, including research and development for the AMCA, are concentrated in Bengaluru, Karnataka, where HAL is headquartered. However, Naidu’s pitch to shift the production facility to Andhra Pradesh underscores his vision to transform the state into a hub for advanced aerospace and defense manufacturing.
The proposed site at Lepakshi-Madakasira in Sri Sathya Sai district offers several advantages. Its proximity to Bengaluru—approximately 100 km from the airport—ensures seamless connectivity to HAL’s existing R&D infrastructure while providing access to a skilled workforce and established supply chains. The 10,000-acre land parcel is envisioned as a sprawling aerospace ecosystem, encompassing not only the AMCA production line but also ancillary industries, testing facilities, and research centers.
Naidu, leveraging his reputation as a tech-savvy administrator who transformed Hyderabad into an IT hub during his tenure as united Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister, emphasized the state’s investor-friendly policies and robust infrastructure. “Andhra Pradesh is ready to host HAL’s AMCA facility with world-class logistics, uninterrupted power supply, and a conducive business environment. The Lepakshi-Madakasira hub will be a game-changer for India’s defense manufacturing,” Naidu said in a statement.
The proposal comes at a time when the NDA coalition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is navigating complex regional dynamics. Naidu, as the leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and a key NDA ally, wields significant influence in national politics, with the TDP holding 16 Lok Sabha seats. His pitch to relocate the AMCA facility could be seen as a strategic move to secure high-value central projects for Andhra Pradesh, especially after the state’s bifurcation in 2014 left it without a major industrial base.
However, the proposal has sparked political speculation, given Karnataka’s status as a Congress-ruled state and a traditional hub for HAL’s operations. Bengaluru hosts HAL’s Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC), which is spearheading the AMCA’s development in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Shifting production to Andhra Pradesh could face resistance from Karnataka’s leadership, who may view it as a loss of economic and strategic clout. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has yet to comment officially, but sources indicate that the state government is likely to lobby to retain HAL’s presence.
The AMCA is a critical project for the Indian Air Force (IAF), which seeks to induct a fifth-generation fighter to counter advanced platforms like China’s J-20 and bolster its air superiority. The aircraft, designed to feature stealth technology, supercruise capability, and advanced avionics, is expected to enter production in the early 2030s, with HAL tasked to produce 250 units across its Mk1 and Mk2 variants. The project, estimated to cost over ?15,000 crore for development alone, is a flagship initiative under the Make in India campaign, with significant private-sector involvement from companies like Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Electronics.
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