Indigenous 5th-Gen Fighter Jet: The AMCA is India’s ambitious fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter aircraft project, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and to be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with private defense firms.
Industry Participation: The program will involve major private sector players, boosting the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative in defense. Strategic Boost: The AMCA will enhance the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities with advanced stealth, supercruise, and network-centric warfare features. Phased Development: The project will proceed in two phases – AMCA Mk-1 with proven engines and AMCA Mk-2 with advanced, possibly indigenous, engines.
The approval marks a crucial step in reducing dependency on foreign defense imports and fostering indigenous defense R&D and manufacturing. The program is expected to generate high-tech jobs and strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem. The AMCA is set to join the IAF’s fleet by the late 2030s, complementing the Tejas Mk-2 and the TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter) for the Navy.
This decision underscores the government’s commitment to making India a global defense manufacturing hub under ‘Make in India, Make for the World.