Astrobase investment in Andhra Pradesh will reach Rs 800 crore to expand its rocket testing and launch vehicle development infrastructure.
The space technology company signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board on Thursday. The agreement was signed during the 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026 in Visakhapatnam.
The expansion will cover Astrobase’s existing rocket engine testing facility at Thimmasamudram in Sri Sathya Sai district.
Under the plan, the company will add 339 acres to its existing facility. Consequently, the total site area will increase to around 360 acres from approximately 22 acres.
Astrobase to expand rocket testing capabilities
Astrobase CEO and Co-founder Neeraj Khandelwal said the expansion marked a milestone. He said it would strengthen India’s space transportation capabilities.
The expanded infrastructure will support several critical testing programmes. These include static hot-fire tests and stage-level hop tests.
Additionally, the facility will accelerate development of reusable launch vehicle technologies.
“India has already demonstrated remarkable prowess in space exploration and technology. The next frontier is to translate this strength into the ability to transport payloads to space more frequently, reliably and at scale,” Khandelwal said.
The project is expected to generate around 500 direct jobs. It could also create nearly 1,000 indirect employment opportunities in the region.
Company announces separate Rs 500 crore Karnataka investment
The Andhra Pradesh announcement follows Astrobase’s plan to invest Rs 500 crore in Karnataka. The company intends to establish a dedicated manufacturing facility in Bengaluru.
The proposed unit will house advanced additive manufacturing and fabrication infrastructure. It will also include non-destructive testing and quality inspection facilities.
Furthermore, the facility will support engine and stage assembly operations. These capabilities will serve the company’s Everest engine and AB220 medium-lift launch vehicle programmes.
CII Partnership Summit targets Rs 11 lakh crore investments
The two-day 31st CII Partnership Summit is taking place in Visakhapatnam on November 12 and 13.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is organising the summit with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The Andhra Pradesh government is hosting the event.
The summit is expected to facilitate investment proposals worth up to Rs 11 lakh crore. Additionally, organisers expect these proposals to generate around 2.5 lakh jobs across sectors.
