An important turning point in India’s domestic defense production capabilities is the country’s ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. India will join a select group of countries with in-house stealth fighter technology when the fifth-generation fighter jet is introduced to the squadron in 2035, according to recent remarks made by DRDO chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat.
The program has serious technological, developmental, and time-related issues that call for further investigation, notwithstanding the official optimism. This report examines the AMCA program’s present state, its technological goals, and whether it can actually provide the promised stealth superiority in the allotted time.
Before being officially approved, the AMCA program underwent a lengthy development process, spending about 15 years on the drawing board. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recently approved a ₹15,000 crore project to design and develop this domestic fifth-generation fighter jet, marking a major milestone. The countdown to 2035, the year DRDO has committed to delivering operational aircraft, officially began with this significant funding commitment. “It takes ten to fifteen years to develop a new platform, regardless of the program’s location.
Therefore, we only began this journey in 2024 after the project was approved by the CCS. We have committed to delivering the platform by 2035, so it will take ten years,” Dr. Kamat told the media in a recent statement.
Nevertheless, the AMCA timeline has undergone a number of changes that cast doubt on the viability of the current estimates. Although the initial plans were ambitious, they were deemed “hopelessly unrealistic” by aviation experts. The plans called for a first flight by 2027 and squadron induction by 2035.
When Dr. Kamat admitted in February 2023 that the first flight “may take seven years” (around 2030) while still sticking to the 2035 induction target, the timeline was subsequently modified. Although the recent CCS approval offers official support and resources that may help stabilize development plans, these fluctuating milestones highlight the program’s complex challenges.
It takes ten to fifteen years to develop a new platform, according to any program in the world. Therefore, we only began this journey in 2024 after the project was approved by the CCS. We have promised to deliver the platform by 2035, so it will take ten years,” Kamat told ANI.
Achieving true stealth capabilities is the main technological goal of the AMCA program. Because of its low observability, the aircraft is very difficult for enemy radars or air defense systems to detect. India’s military aviation technology has advanced significantly with this stealth capability. India’s leading defense scientists are developing this cutting-edge platform in a highly secure environment at the Aeronautical Development Agency in Bengaluru.
The AMCA includes advanced characteristics that distinguish fifth-generation fighters in addition to stealth. The “First Look, First Kill” capability will allow AMCA pilots to identify and eliminate targets before adversaries are aware of the threat thanks to multispectral sensors positioned throughout the airframe, which will give pilots a 360-degree visual awareness without requiring aircraft maneuvering. Advanced features like voice-activated commands and a 3D audio warning system are incorporated into the cockpit design to lessen pilot workload and increase focus on mission execution.
Engine development is arguably the biggest technical challenge the AMCA program faces. The AMCA MK-1, which will use an upgraded GE F414 engine, and the more sophisticated AMCA MK-2, which needs a 110kN thrust engine developed domestically through international cooperation, are the two different versions that the program envisions. According to former Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, this new engine development is crucial to the AMCA MK-2’s ability to compete with other cutting-edge fighter jets.
For a true fifth-generation fighter to achieve super-cruise capability, or sustained supersonic flight without afterburners, 110kN of thrust is necessary. This feature greatly improves overall operational effectiveness and fuel efficiency. Dr. Kamat acknowledged that “AERO engine technology is a very complex technology, but we have learned a lot from Kaveri,” demonstrating that DRDO officials are aware of the complexity involved. Since the current engine technology has advanced to the sixth generation and the Kaveri was a fourth generation engine, we wish to collaborate with a foreign OEM to lower the risks and shorten the development time.”
The Kaveri engine for the TEJAS Light Combat Aircraft, India’s prior attempt at developing an indigenous engine, faced major setbacks and eventually fell short of specifications. The AMCA is reportedly in discussions with a number of foreign aerospace companies for the joint development of the vital 110kN engine as a result of this experience, which has led to a more cooperative approach. Through this partnership, development risks may be reduced by combining established engine manufacturers’ demonstrated capabilities with India’s expanding engine design expertise.
DRDO is already searching overseas for assistance. In order to reduce development risks, Kamat stated, “We want to start an AERO engine program and we want to collaborate with a foreign OEM.” Although AERO engine technology is extremely complicated, Kaveri has taught us a lot. Since the current engine technology has advanced to the sixth generation and the Kaveri was a fourth generation engine, we wish to collaborate with a foreign OEM to lower the risks and shorten the development time. In the upcoming months, hopefully, we will hear some positive news about this,” DRDO Chief Samir V. Kamat continued.
Whether the AMCA program will actually become a fifth-generation fighter is a contentious issue. The AMCA will not be a true fifth-generation platform like the Chinese J-20 or American F-35, but rather a 4.5 generation fighter, according to some defense analysts. The aircraft allegedly lacks three defining characteristics required for fifth-generation status, although the sources that are currently available don’t fully explain what these features are. This is the reason for the classification discrepancy.
India would be one of only a few countries able to deploy fifth-generation fighter technology if the AMCA’s design objectives are met. Only the United States currently possesses a sizable number of fully functional fifth-generation fighters, though China and Russia are also working on sophisticated programs with differing degrees of success. This accomplishment would be a major technological statement for India’s domestic defense manufacturing capabilities as well as a military advancement.
With Dr. Samir V. Kamat, whose term as DRDO chairman was recently extended until May 31, 2025, the AMCA program enjoys leadership continuity. Stability is provided by this extension at a crucial point in the program’s evolution. After earning his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University, Dr. Kamat joined DRDO in 1989 and brings a wealth of technical experience. His experience in materials development, which includes work on superalloy-based aero engine components and high-temperature titanium alloys, is especially pertinent to the advanced materials needed for stealth aircraft.
According to the program’s structural organization, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will handle production, while the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO serves as the nodal agency for carrying out the program and designing the aircraft. This assignment of duties preserves a single program direction while utilizing the core competencies of each organization.
Whether the AMCA program can fulfill its promise of stealth superiority by 2035 will depend on a number of important issues. First, there is a steep learning curve because of India’s lack of experience with stealth technology. Advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and complex computational modeling are necessary for stealth design, which has taken decades for other countries to perfect.
Second, even though its critical importance is acknowledged, the engine development pathway is still unclear. While working with well-established international partners can hasten development, integrating foreign technology into domestic platforms frequently presents integration challenges. Dr. Kamat stated that announcements may be made “in the next few months.” The details of possible collaborations for the 110kN engine development are still being negotiated.
Third, the Indian Air Force’s internal skepticism indicates that the program’s ambitious nature is acknowledged. In the past, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari has advocated for “prudence” and suggested international partnerships as a backup plan for creating “alternative systems & sensors” in case domestic development falls behind schedule. End users’ professional prudence shows that they are aware of the technical difficulties.
With the potential to significantly improve India’s aerospace capabilities and strategic posture, the AMCA program is the nation’s most ambitious domestic military aviation initiative to date. After accounting for India’s relative lack of experience with some necessary technologies, the 2035 timeline, despite its challenges, seems to be fairly in line with international standards for the development of fifth-generation fighters.
Effective international cooperation will be crucial to success, especially for engine development, while preserving the platform’s overall indigenous identity. Although there are still significant technical obstacles, the recent CCS approval and the steady leadership under Dr. Kamat offer encouraging signs for program continuity. If successful, the AMCA would demonstrate India’s increasing technological prowess in one of the most difficult areas of aerospace engineering, in addition to being a military accomplishment. The groundwork being laid today shows India’s serious commitment to joining the select group of countries with fifth-generation fighter technology, even though it is unclear if it will achieve true stealth superiority by 2035.
