Bengaluru: India is taking a giant leap towards self-reliance in air defence with the development of the 5th Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Designed to evade enemy radars and conduct stealth operations, the AMCA is being developed under the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which operates under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). If all goes as planned, the indigenously developed AMCA will take its maiden flight by 2028.
At the Aero India 2025 event, DRDO showcased a model of the AMCA, highlighting India's progress in advanced aviation technology. The Defence Ministry approved the production in 2024, and manufacturing has already begun on the outskirts of Bengaluru in Mandur. Currently, only the United States, China, and Russia possess 5th-generation fighter jets, and India is now set to join this elite league, strengthening its self-reliance in air defence.
AMCA to Take Flight in Three Years
The Indian Air Force (IAF) took nearly 20 years to develop and induct the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, but leveraging that experience, the AMCA is being developed at a much faster pace. The first prototype is expected to be ready for testing in 2028, with plans to manufacture 18 fighter jets by 2034. The estimated initial investment is ₹15,000 crore, according to officials.
Cutting-Edge Technology for Stealth Attacks
Weighing 25 tonnes, the AMCA will have a maximum altitude capability of 55,000 feet. It is designed to penetrate deep into enemy territory, bypass radar detection, and execute stealth attacks. Additionally, it will have the ability to disable enemy computer monitoring systems, crippling their defence mechanisms.
The aircraft will feature two engines and will be piloted by a single operator. With an advanced weapons storage capacity of up to six tonnes, it can carry missiles, bombs, and rockets for precise air and ground strikes.
"The AMCA is designed to execute precision attacks on designated targets with high efficiency, ensuring India's air superiority in modern warfare," Nagesh, Additional Director of the AMCA project, told ETV Bharat.
