New Delhi: India has launched the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, an ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter jet programme that marks a major leap in the country’s defence capabilities and self-reliance. Designed to evade modern radar systems and carry out deep-strike missions undetected, the AMCA will place India among an elite group of nations including the US, Russia, and China that possess such advanced fighter technology.
The Indian Air Force plans to induct 120 AMCA jets, with production set to begin after 2035. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 1.57 lakh crore, with each aircraft priced around Rs 1,228 crore. The twin-engine fighter will weigh 25 tonnes and boast impressive performance features: a top speed of 2,600 km/h (Mach 2.15), a combat range of 1,620 km, and a service ceiling of 20,000 metres. It will also carry a payload of up to 6,500 kg.
Two versions of the AMCA are under development. The Mk-1 variant will use the American GE F414 engine, while the Mk-2 version will feature a new 120 kN thrust engine co-developed by India and France’s Safran under a $7.2 billion collaboration, granting India full technology transfer and intellectual property rights.
The AMCA will incorporate cutting-edge indigenous technologies, including the Uttam AESA radar capable of detecting fighter-sized targets from over 150 kilometres away. It will also feature AI-driven sensor fusion, an infrared search and track system, and an integrated vehicle health monitoring suite, giving it a “first look, first kill” combat advantage.
Its internal weapons bay is designed to carry six Astra Mk-2 air-to-air missiles while maintaining stealth. The aircraft will also be compatible with BrahMos-NG supersonic cruise missiles, SANT anti-tank missiles, and Rudram anti-radiation missiles.
The project timeline includes prototype construction between 2025 and 2027, flight testing by 2029, and induction by 2035. Development is being led by HAL in collaboration with private sector partners such as Tata Advanced Systems, Adani Defence, L&T, Bharat Forge, and Goodluck India.
More than just a new fighter jet, the AMCA represents a transformational step toward making India a global aerospace power and achieving long-term defence self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
