After the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved a long-pending proposal to design and develop an indigenous fifth-generation deep penetration Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) that would meet the Indian Air Force’s future requirements, India has now made the decision to stop depending on foreign fighter jets. The swing-role AMCA is reportedly going to be able to cruise at supersonic speed. The project will start at a cost of Rs 15,000 crore. India’s next big project would be this, following the development of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. This is encouraging for Made in India in the defence sector.
Development and building of AMCA
India has been working on developing and building an ambitious AMCA jet, even though it has already created the LCA Tejas. To increase the Air Force’s power capabilities, Indian companies are developing a medium-weight deep penetration fighter jet with cutting-edge stealth technologies. Only a few nations, including the US, China, and Russia, now possess fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. Under the initiative, the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) would work together to build five AMCA prototypes with assistance from the private sector.
The Indian Air Force orders have the potential to produce business worth lakhs of crores for Indian businesses, in addition to creating a large number of employments on a large scale, according to the Defence Ministry. The fifth-generation aircraft project is expected to create lakhs of jobs.
Light Combat Aircraft
The Narendra Modi government’s Indian Air Force has purchased over 200 Light Combat Aircraft and approved the purchase of engines for the LCA Mark-2 project, giving the indigenous fighter aircraft programmes a significant boost.
After 2030, the AMCA is anticipated to begin integrating its members into operational duties. The GE-414 engines will power the first two squadrons, with talks ongoing to co-develop more potent engines for the other squadrons.
More than 200 of these formidable fifth-generation fighters are expected to be delivered to India, and the aircraft will aid in the nation’s future fighter jet development.
