India to Finalize AMCA Stealth Fighter Contract in 3-6 Months, Announces Defence Secretary
India's aspirations for a fifth-generation fighter jet are advancing as Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has announced that the development contract for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program will be awarded in the next three to six months. Singh, speaking with CNBC-TV18, emphasized that the program has reached a "critical juncture" in enhancing India's airpower amid increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
The AMCA, a twin-engine, 25-tonne stealth multirole fighter jet, is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Planned to be a key part of India's aerial combat capabilities by 2035, the jet is designed for use by both the Indian Air Force and Navy. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the program in March 2024, allocating an initial budget of ₹15,000 crore for prototype development.
In a departure from traditional models, the AMCA is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, which was approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in May 2025. This structure allows major private defense companies such as Tata and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to independently or jointly bid for the contract, alongside Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), marking a significant step in India's indigenous defense manufacturing efforts.
The Defence Ministry issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) on June 18, 2025, seeking participation from Indian industry in areas like prototype development, flight testing, and certification. Interested companies are required to respond by August 16, 2025. The chosen private partner must establish dedicated facilities and deliver five prototypes, with expectations for rollout by 2028 and the first flight scheduled for late 2028 or early 2029.
The initial AMCA Mk1 variant will be powered by the GE F414 engine with a thrust of 98 kN. The Mk2 variant will feature a more powerful 110 kN indigenous engine, which is being developed by DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in collaboration with a foreign partner, likely France's Safran.
Designed to undertake a variety of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), as well as electronic warfare, the AMCA will incorporate state-of-the-art stealth technology. It will also feature an internal weapons bay with a 1,500 kg payload capacity, external payload capacity of 5,500 kg, and 6,500 kg of internal fuel.
DRDO Chief Dr. Samir V. Kamat indicated that the development trials for the aircraft will be completed by 2034, leading to full-scale production by 2035. This project is anticipated to significantly bolster India's defense self-reliance, complementing recent achievements like the operational success of the Tejas Mk1A in Operation Sindoor.
As discussions for co-production of the F414 engine near completion, with the contract expected to be awarded between October 2025 and January 2026, the AMCA program is poised to position India among the select nations with indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter capabilities.
