Flying Wedge Defence Signs MoU with AP Govt to Build Autonomous Aircraft Hub

Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a 500-acre autonomous combat aircraft manufacturing and testing facility. The project, located in the state, will support research, design, assembly, testing, and systems integration of autonomous combat aircraft. The agreement outlines an investment of about ₹1,169 crore and aims to create more than 1,000 jobs.

This comes just after Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation announced an investment of ₹1,300 crore in another facility. Under the project, the company will develop electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, aiming to accelerate India’s transition to aerial mobility.

The facility will be India’s first integrated hub for autonomous combat aircraft. The project seeks to support national priorities related to self-reliance in defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on foreign platforms.

It will enable end-to-end development processes for autonomous platforms. FWDA said the project aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India programmes. Founder and CEO Suhas Tejaskanda said, "This understanding will not only create high-value employment but will also catalyse an entire ecosystem of skilled talent, component suppliers, and academic collaborations in the region."

The announcement follows defence reforms introduced earlier this year that encouraged deeper government–private collaboration. The MoU supports a push towards domestic capability in AI-led defence systems, unmanned aerial platforms, and swarm intelligence technologies.

The project also builds on FWDA’s recent programmes in autonomous and AI-enabled aircraft systems. The company has developed certified unmanned platforms and has expanded its portfolio in both defence and agricultural drone applications.