Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme facility at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh on 15 May 2026. The event was attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
The AMCA programme facility is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Purpose of the Facility: The facility will function as an integration hub, development centre and flight testing complex for India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft programme. According to government officials, nearly 140 Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft are expected to be manufactured at the facility. The project is also expected to attract investments worth around ₹1 lakh crore.
About the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter aircraft programme aimed at strengthening the country’s air combat capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign defence platforms.
Key Features
- Stealth technology
- Supercruise capability
- Advanced avionics
- Integrated sensor systems
- Multirole combat operations
- Indigenous design and development
The AMCA programme is considered a major step towards achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft
Only a few countries currently possess operational fifth-generation fighter jet technology. These aircraft combine stealth, advanced sensors, network-centric warfare capabilities and high survivability.
Major Fifth-Generation Fighter Jets
- F-35 Lightning II – United States
- F-22 Raptor – United States
- Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon – China
- Sukhoi Su-57 Felon – Russia
- F-35I Adir – Israel
Source: AIR
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