Visakhapatnam, July 11 -- Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday termed Andhra Pradesh a critical new nerve-centre for the country's defence infrastructure, while commissioning the stealth frigate 'INS Mahendragiri' in Visakhapatnam, marking the successful completion of the Indian Navy's advanced Project 17A Nilgiri-class warship series.

Speaking at the high-profile commissioning ceremony on the eastern seaboard, Rajnath Singh mapped out the state's strategic integration across multiple combat domains.

"Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a new powerhouse for India's Defence and Aerospace Manufacturing today. It is playing its role across air, water, land, and the unmanned domain. In Puttaparthi, we laid the foundation stone for the...