Light Combat Aircraft manufacturing facility to come up in AP

Vijayawada, Aug 21 (PTI) A weapons integration facilityto manufacture Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), said to be thefirst-of-its-kind in the country in the private sector, willbe set up in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh at atotal cost of Rs 2,135 crore. Wem Technologies Private Limited is partnering withLockheed Martin, the largest defence equipment manufacturer inthe US, to set up this facility, Chief Minister N ChandrababuNaidu said. "We have decided to allot 350 acres of land for thisfacility spread over Vatluru and Bhogapuram villages nearEluru in West Godavari district. In the first phase, they willinvest Rs 635 crore and provide employment to 650 persons. Inall, 2510 jobs will be created when the facility becomes fullyoperational," Chandrababu told a press conference here lastnight. Wem currently has orders worth Rs 560 crore on hand, hesaid. Other details about the project or its Indian promotersare awaited. PTI DBV DKRCJSRE