The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put its stamp of approval on Rs 15,000 crore indigenous fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fighter jet project for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The approval given is for the proposal to ready five prototypes of AMCA, which the Defence Research and Development Organisation will carry out over the next five years.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of DRDO in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will build the indigenous fifth generation AMCA. However, the first flight of AMCA is expected to take place in the next five years i.e. before 2030, but it may take more time than that to join the Air Force.
For around a couple of years DRDO and HAL have been waiting for the approval by CCS. As reported previously, in March 2022, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt had told Parliament in a written reply that the Ministry of Defence has started the process to get approval of CCS for preparing the design and prototype type of AMCA. In March 2023, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had inaugurated the new Flight Control System (FCS) facility in Bengaluru where R&D is being done for the avionics of AMCA.
Engines for AMCA
Financial Express Online has reported previously, during PM Modi’s visit to the US, India had signed an agreement with General Electric to manufacture 99 F-414 engines under Make in India. These engines are to be made for the Mark-2 version of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas i.e. Medium Weight Fighter (MWF) manufactured by HAL.
During this agreement, GE company had also claimed to cooperate for the engines of MK fighter planes. In such a situation, it is believed that the prototype of AMCA will also be equipped with GE company F-414 engine.
However, once the AMCA goes for production it will be fitted with a heavy engine either from Safran of France or GE.
Meanwhile …
In the neighbourhood, according to reports Türkiye is keen on involving Pakistan and Azerbaijan in its fifth-generation fighter jet `Kaan’ project. Türkiye’s fifth generation fighter jet `Kaan’ undertook its first flight recently.
A few years ago, China had also claimed to make the fifth-generation fighter jet with the production of J-20 Chengdu fighter jet. However, aviation experts had refused to consider the J-20 as a stealth fighter jet.
Why?
Because IAF’s SU-30 MKI had once detected China’s fifth generation aircraft in the LAC airspace adjacent to Arunachal Pradesh. Whereas Fifth Generation Stealth Fighter Jets cannot be detected by any radar. In such a situation, China is now secretly working on another stealth fighter jet.
In such a situation, Russia and America are the only two countries which have fifth generation stealth fighter jets in their air force. America has two stealth fighter jets, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning. Russia also has Su-57 and Su-75 Checkmate jets. Russia had recently offered Checkmate to India. But it is certain that India is now betting on its indigenous AMCA fighter jet.
Background
It has been previously reported that in 2007 India had tied up with Russia for the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) in an effort to develop a stealth fighter – Su-57. After several rounds of discussions related to work share, engine and more, India pulled out of the programme in 2018.
The first prototype of AMCA is expected to roll out in 2026 and is likely to be powered by GE-414 engine. As per the plan, in an annual press conference the IAF Chief in 2021 had stated that by the start of next decade the AMCA will be inducted.
How many Squadrons?
With the latest avionics, indigenous AESA radar and powered by either Safran or GE engines, IAF is likely to induct around 7 squadrons of the AMCA. The initial two squadrons will have AMCA-Mk1-A powered by GE-414 engines which have a thrust of 98kN.
