India’s Indigenous Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet Project AMCA Enters Crucial Phase

India’s ambitious programme to develop indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft has entered a crucial phase, with the Defence Ministry issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project to three major companies. Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Tata Advanced Systems, and Bharat Forge are believed to be among the contenders for the prestigious defence programme. L&T has partnered with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), while Bharat Forge has joined hands with BEML for the project. Notably, state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has reportedly been kept out of the current selection process, as the government adopts a competitive model offering equal opportunities to both private and public sector players.

The AMCA project is considered one of India’s most important defence initiatives and is expected to become the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities from the mid-2030s. The twin-engine stealth fighter jet will feature advanced sensor fusion, internal weapons bays, artificial intelligence-enabled systems, and network-centric warfare capabilities. The project’s manufacturing facility is being developed across 650 acres in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, at an estimated cost of Rs 15,803 crore. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently laid the foundation stone for the project along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The selected company will work alongside the Aeronautical Development Agency to develop five AMCA prototypes, with the first prototype expected by 2029 using GE F414 engines. The project also mandates completion of 1,800 sortie flight tests within 84 months before moving into full-scale production.