Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday, 2 September met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, seeking the Defence Ministry's cooperation for the Invest Telangana Global Summit-2026 — a major investment conclave scheduled at Bharat Future City, Hyderabad from 7 to 9 December. A key ask was Rajnath Singh's personal presence to inaugurate the Defence Expo-2026, a flagship event within the summit.

What the Defence Expo-2026 Will Feature

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy briefed the Defence Minister on the scope of the expo, which will include a dedicated session on aerospace, defence, and space sectors, a prestigious air show, an industrial exhibition, and live demonstrations of land-based defence systems. The CM emphasised that the expo is being designed to meet international standards, and the Defence Ministry's institutional backing is considered essential to that goal.

Revanth Reddy specifically requested assistance in securing airspace clearances for the air show, along with the participation of Indian Air Force aircraft and the celebrated aerobatic teams — Surya Kiran and Sarang — as well as support for a static aircraft display. The CM also asked that state-of-the-art defence systems from the army, navy, and air force be showcased, and that senior officials and representatives from all three armed services attend.

Defence PSUs and International Delegations on the Agenda

The meeting also covered the planned participation of major defence public sector undertakings (PSUs) — including HAL, BEL, BDL, MDL, and DRDO laboratories — which are expected to display indigenous defence technology at the summit. According to the Chief Minister's Office, Revanth Reddy sought the ministry's help in organising meetings with foreign defence representatives, bilateral defence delegations, and figures from prominent international defence organisations.

The two leaders also discussed broader investment prospects in the defence sector in Telangana, with the state positioning itself as a preferred destination for defence manufacturing and technology.

Land Deals: Adilabad Airport and DRDL Project

On the infrastructure front, Revanth Reddy informed Rajnath Singh that the Telangana government has already acquired 750 acres of land for the Adilabad Airport and is prepared to acquire an additional 750 acres upon a formal request from the Defence Ministry.

Significantly, the Chief Minister announced that the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) has agreed to allocate 416.18 acres of land in Devarakadra Mandal, Mahabubnagar district, for a project by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). The land will be leased for 33 years at a nominal annual rent of just ₹1 for the entire parcel — not on a per-acre basis — with a provision to extend the lease twice if required.

Delegation Present at the Meeting

The Telangana delegation accompanying the Chief Minister included SHAKTI Minister G. Vivek Venkataswamy, Members of Parliament M. Anil Kumar Yadav, Dr Mallu Ravi, Suresh Shetkar, and Porika Balram Naik, along with State Government Advisor (Protocol) Harkara Venugopal. The high-level representation signals the political priority Telangana has assigned to the December summit.

With the Invest Telangana Global Summit less than four months away, the state government's outreach to the Centre is likely to intensify as it seeks federal institutional and logistical support to position the event as a landmark on the national defence and investment calendar.