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Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister M B Patil has requested Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to consider establishing the AMCA campus in the state, saying it accounts for nearly 65 per cent of India’s aerospace and defence output.

In his letter to the Defence Minister, Patil, who is the Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, noted that the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) requires approximately 300 acres of land for aircraft production, assembly, and associated facilities, along with an additional 350 acres for a dedicated runway.

“In this context, I would like to present Karnataka’s strong suitability for hosting this project of national importance and request your due consideration of Karnataka as the site for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft campus to be established by ADA,” he said in the letter dated May 15, which was shared with the media on Saturday.

He highlighted that Karnataka contributes nearly 65 per cent of India’s aerospace and defence output and is home to the country’s most concentrated aerospace cluster.

“Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), ISRO, National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), DRDO (including DARE, GTRE, and ADE), BEML, and BEL are all based in or around Bengaluru. ADA itself is headquartered here, making Karnataka a natural location for its expanded operations,” Patil stated.

He also pointed out that private players who could be potential partners of ADA have a significant presence in the state.

The minister further highlighted that Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has established a major aerospace facility in Karnataka’s Kolar district, while Airbus and Boeing operate their largest engineering and R&D centres outside their home countries from Bengaluru.

He added that Collins Aerospace recently inaugurated its operations centre in Bengaluru.

Additionally, a network of over 2,000 SMEs supports the ecosystem through precision manufacturing, avionics, and subsystem integration services.

On the research and talent front, the minister said the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, with its dedicated Department of Aerospace Engineering, is a key feeder of talent to ADA, DRDO, and HAL.

The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), also located in Bengaluru, is one of India’s leading aerospace research institutions.

According to him, under the Karnataka Aerospace and Defence Policy (2022–27), the state is developing five dedicated aerospace and defence hubs and has set a target of attracting USD 6 billion in investments and generating 70,000 jobs over five years.

Given the strategic importance of the AMCA programme to national security and technological advancement, Patil said Karnataka is well-positioned to serve as a robust and integrated base for its successful execution.

“We are keen to work closely with the Ministry of Defence and ADA to contribute to the success of the AMCA programme,” he said.

The minister assured that the Government of Karnataka is fully committed to facilitating the initiative.

“We are prepared to expeditiously identify and allot approximately 650 acres of land at a location with strong proximity to existing aerospace infrastructure, ensure necessary connectivity and utilities, and actively support the development of the surrounding industrial ecosystem,” Patil added.