In a groundbreaking move that positions Andhra Pradesh at the centre of India’s aerospace revolution, the state government has signed a major MoU with Aerpace Industries Ltd to establish the nation’s first-ever dedicated Drone City in Kurnool district. The announcement has generated buzz across defence, aviation, and tech circles, marking one of India’s most ambitious entries into the global drone ecosystem.
A Visionary Plan for India’s Drone Future
The Drone City will come up in Guttapadu, Kurnool, and is designed to be a complete drone ecosystem, not just a manufacturing cluster. The hub will integrate:
●Advanced drone manufacturing units for defence, transportation and industrial applications
●Cutting-edge R&D centres to build new-age unmanned aerial systems (UAS)
●Large-scale testing zones for defence drones and heavy-lift logistics crafts
●Training academies for remote pilots, drone engineers and AI mobility specialists
●AI-based mobility innovation labs powered by Aerpace’s indigenous operating systems
The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) will offer infrastructure support, policy enablement and administrative facilitation to accelerate project execution.
Why This Matters for India
This project is more than a tech park—it has the potential to transform India’s future in advanced aerospace technology. By bringing manufacturing, testing and training under one roof, Andhra Pradesh aims to create a world-class drone innovation corridor aligned with:
●Make in India
●Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence
●Next-generation mobility and logistics growth
Industry analysts say that this Drone City could become the Silicon Valley for drones, attracting companies, startups and research institutions from across the world.
●A Boost for Jobs, Industry and the Regional Economy
●Economists estimate that the drone cluster could generate:
●Thousands of direct and indirect jobs
●Deep-tech startups and spinoffs
●A robust supply-chain ecosystem for components, electronics and fabrication
●Massive infrastructure upgrades in and around Kurnool
1This is expected to position Andhra Pradesh as one of India’s most competitive high-tech manufacturing states.
The Challenges Ahead
Despite the bold vision, the success of the project will depend on:
●Rapid infrastructure rollout—power, roads, high-security testing zones
●Talent development—AI engineers, drone pilots, technicians
●Clear drone regulatory frameworks for commercial and defence sectors
●A strong local vendor and component ecosystem to avoid import dependency
Industry leaders stress that execution in the first two years will decide whether Drone City becomes a global benchmark.
What Happens Next
With the MoU signed, the next milestones include:
●Land allocation
●Master planning of the industrial zones
●Construction of pilot testing areas
●Announcements of anchor tenants
●Recruitment for early-phase training programmes
As the groundwork begins, all eyes will be on Andhra Pradesh—ready to take India’s drone revolution to new altitudes.
