The Andhra Pradesh government has taken a significant step to enhance India's indigenous defence and aerospace sectors by allocating 350 acres for the establishment of an Aircraft Integration & Flight Testing Complex in Puttaparthi, Sri Sathya Sai district. This facility, developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will focus on aircraft assembly, systems integration, and flight testing for advanced combat aircraft and unmanned aerial systems. The project has received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Defence, reflecting the government's commitment to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The allocation includes 150 acres for the testing complex adjacent to the Puttaparthi runway, along with an additional 200 acres for a satellite office complex and residential township. The government also plans to extend the runway to 10,000 feet and develop essential aviation infrastructure such as an air traffic control tower and navigation aids.

In conjunction with this, the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) has been authorized to develop 300 acres of industrial land for private aerospace and defence manufacturing partners. This integrated ecosystem is expected to attract investments in various sectors, including avionics and precision engineering, while creating significant opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and research partnerships in the region. Overall, this initiative positions Andhra Pradesh as a burgeoning hub for aerospace and defence manufacturing in India.