Explained | AMCA: Indigenous Stealth Fighter Jet for Indian Air Force
Wednesday, November 24, 2021 | Chimniii Desk
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Project for a stealth fighter
India is now on the verge of launching its most ambitious domestic military aviation project to date: the development of a fifth-generation fighter, dubbed the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA), equipped with superior stealth and'supercruise' capabilities.
Prepared for takeoff
The case for full-scale engineering development of the twin-engine AMCA prototypes has been prepared and will be submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for approval early next year, according to top sources.
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Significant obstacle
Fifth-generation jet production is a highly difficult and expensive process, with only the American F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning-II Joint Strike Fighter, the Chinese Chengdu J-20, and the Russian Sukhoi-57 being operating.
The hunt for a devout Indian stealth fighter
However, experts argue that the J-20 and Sukhoi-57 fighters fall short of becoming actual fifth-generation fighters. The 36 Rafales that the IAF will acquire as part of a Rs 59,000 crore contract signed with France in September 2016 are 4.5-generation aircraft.
There is a long way to go.
As of now, the cost of developing the 25-tonne AMCA is estimated to be around Rs 15,000 crore, with the first prototype scheduled to "roll out" in 2025-26 and production of the Mark-1 jets scheduled to begin in 2030-31, according to the "aggressive timelines" set by DRDO and its Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). However, a more feasible timeline for the AMCA induction would be about 2035.
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