NuzTube INDIA
In a monumental move that reinforces India’s push towards defence self-reliance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday approved the “execution model” for the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. This paves the way for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to join an elite club of nations with homegrown stealth capabilities, potentially making India the fourth such country after the US, China, and Russia.
Currently, only the United States (with the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II), China (J-20), and Russia (Su-57) operate fifth-generation stealth aircraft. With this strategic approval, India is poised to enter this exclusive domain, marking a significant leap in indigenous aerospace technology and national security preparedness.
Announced by the Ministry of Defence, the AMCA execution model will lay the groundwork for the indigenous design and production of a stealthy, multi-role fighter aircraft equipped with next-generation combat capabilities. Rajnath Singh emphasized the significance of this decision, calling it a “crucial step towards harnessing domestic capability, expertise, and innovation in aerospace development, aligned with the vision of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance).”
The total development cost of the project is estimated to be around ₹15,000 crore. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which successfully developed the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, will now lead the AMCA project in collaboration with Indian industry partners. The AMCA’s execution model promotes wide-scale industry participation, with ADA expected to release an Expression of Interest (EoI) for eligible Indian companies, allowing both solo and consortium-based bids.
This development follows last year’s in-principle approval of the project by the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It comes amid increasing regional security concerns, particularly related to China’s growing military footprint near India’s borders and reports of its sixth-generation aircraft development.
The timeline for AMCA’s deployment has also been set:
- Prototype Rollout: 2028–2029
- Series Production: 2032–2033
- Induction into IAF: Targeted for 2034
The urgency around the AMCA has intensified after Operation Sindoor and rising tensions with China. Beijing’s existing J-20 fifth-generation fighters are already operational near the Indian border in Tibet, and it is reportedly preparing to export 40 of its J-35 fighters to Pakistan. A recent U.S. Congressional report also highlighted China’s dominance in the Indo-Pacific with a growing fleet of over 1,300 fourth-generation jets and increasing deployment of stealth aircraft.
Why AMCA Is a Game Changer
The AMCA is envisioned as a versatile, all-weather, stealth, twin-engine, fifth-generation aircraft capable of performing multiple roles—from air superiority and precision ground attacks to Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) and electronic warfare (EW).
Key specifications include:
- Max Takeoff Weight: ~25 tonnes
- Ceiling Altitude: Up to 55,000 feet
- Internal Weapons Bay: 1,500 kg
- External Payload Capacity: 5,500 kg
- Fuel Capacity: 6,500 kg
AMCA’s stealth features include all-aspect stealth shaping, internal weapons carriage, and advanced radar-absorbent materials. The aircraft will support supercruise, sensor fusion, advanced avionics, and integrated electronic warfare capabilities. The Mk1 variant will use the American GE F414 engine, while the Mk2 will feature a more powerful, potentially indigenous engine developed in collaboration with foreign partners.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will anchor the production process, but the execution model guarantees extensive private sector engagement to speed up timelines, foster innovation, and break public sector monopolies in defence production.
In conclusion, the AMCA project is not just about creating a state-of-the-art aircraft—it symbolizes India’s technological prowess, strategic autonomy, and its rising status as a global aerospace force.
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