Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approves the AMCA fighter jet program execution model

New Delhi (India) May 28: On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave his approval to the AMCA execution framework under the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) who will manage the project in collaboration with partners from the private sector. The permission shows New Delhi's determination to move forward with the AMCA prototype's development and improve domestic aerospace capabilities with the goal of Aatmanirbharta.

India has been developing a medium-weight, deep-penetration fighter jet with superior stealth capabilities as part of the major AMCA project to increase its air force capabilities.

The Ministry of Defence have said, "In a significant push towards enhancing India's indigenous defence capabilities and fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model," in a statement.

The government also stated that businesses in the private sector are invited to take part in the project.

TheMinistry of Defence said, “They can bid either independently or as a joint venture or as consortia. The entity/bidder should be an Indian company compliant with the laws and regulations of the country." 

The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is a twin-engine, 25-ton aircraft with a 6.5-ton internal fuel tank. It will be able to handle new and changing obstacles in modern combat because of its advanced stealth features.

The anticipated initial cost of the project is Rs 15,000 crore.India is now one of the few countries that has created a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft because of AMCA. China has the J-20 Mighty Dragon, Russia has the Sukhoi Su-57 and the United States has the F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning II.

The government's approval comes over a year after the AMCA project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, which is under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The committee approved Rs 15,000 crore to design and create five prototypes.

The DRDO promises to deliver AMCA by 2035. DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat has said, “This journey began only in 2024, when the Cabinet Committee on Security sanctioned the project. It will take ten years, and we have committed to delivering the platform by 2035.”

It is expected that the AMCA will be a multipurpose, stealth-heavy platform that integrates modern technology, including sensor fusion, internal weapons bays, powerful avionics, and supercruise capability. It will greatly strengthen India's air superiority stance once it is operational, particularly in challenged conditions.

Aadrika Tayal