New Delhi: In a significant step toward boosting India’s indigenous defence capabilities, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the “Execution Model” for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme — a project aimed at developing a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The AMCA is envisioned as a medium-weight, deep penetration combat aircraft equipped with cutting-edge stealth and combat features. It is being developed to significantly enhance the IAF’s air dominance and long-range strike capability.
According to an official statement by the defence ministry on Tuesday, the AMCA project will be executed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in partnership with Indian industry. The newly approved execution model aims to foster a strong domestic aerospace ecosystem by offering equal opportunities to both public and private sector entities.
“The entities can bid independently, form joint ventures, or create consortia,” the ministry said. “Each participating entity must be an Indian company compliant with national laws and regulations.”
This model is seen as a major step toward realizing the vision of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence production, especially in the high-tech aerospace sector. The development of the AMCA prototype will mark a key milestone in India’s journey toward creating its own fifth-generation fighter jet.
The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had granted in-principle approval for the AMCA programme last year. The initial development cost is estimated to be around ₹15,000 crore.
The Indian Air Force has strongly backed the project, citing long-term operational needs. Confidence in indigenous fighter jet development has grown following the success of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, which has already been inducted into the IAF.
The AMCA programme is expected to further solidify India’s strategic autonomy in defence and reduce dependency on foreign combat aircraft in the future.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
