India Develops amca stealth fighter India to Counter Rivals
The development of the AMCA is a crucial step towards enhancing India's indigenous defence capabilities, and the new industry partnership model is expected to drive innovation and self-reliance in the aerospace sector, ultimately strengthening India's air power in the region.
India's plans to develop the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), its most sophisticated stealth fighter jet, aim to reassert air dominance in South Asia, where Pakistan is rapidly improving its air power with Chinese-made fighters and missiles.
The Indian Air Force has been reduced to 31 squadrons, below the authorized 42, and the government aims to partner with a domestic firm for the AMCA development to enhance the air force's capabilities and reinforce its strategic posture in the region. The project's approval comes nearly three weeks after a conflict with arch-rival Pakistan, which has acquired fifth-generation fighters, including the J-31, intensifying the pressure on India to accelerate its air force modernization.
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a programme to develop a 5th generation AMCA prototype, which will be executed through industry partnership by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The move is seen as a significant step towards self-reliance in the aerospace sector. The Indian Ministry of Defence has also approved a new industry partnership model for the AMCA programme, allowing private and public sector companies to bid for participation, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will submit an open bid to join the programme on equal terms with other companies.
The AMCA initiative signals India's determination to reassert aerial dominance and counter China's military tech influence in the region. With the new industry partnership model, Indian companies, including joint ventures and consortia, can bid for the programme, aiming to harness indigenous expertise and capacity, and enhance private sector industrial capacities to support aircraft development and production.