Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Electronics Limited Collaborate on India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft Initiative

In a significant advancement for India's domestic defense production, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have announced a strategic alliance to back the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which marks the nation’s inaugural fifth-generation fighter initiative.

The partnership is poised to submit a response to the Expression of Interest (EoI) issued by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the organization leading the AMCA project for the Indian Air Force.

This collaboration combines L&T’s established proficiency in defense and aerospace platforms with BEL’s expertise in advanced defense electronics and mission systems. Officials have indicated that this alliance is anticipated to substantially boost India’s capacity to design, integrate, and produce a state-of-the-art stealth fighter.

“The collaboration with BEL marks a significant leap in our commitment to modernising India’s defence capabilities. Our combined efforts will play a crucial role in bolstering national security and advancing self-reliance in defence technologies,” said L&T CMD S.N. Subrahmanyan.

BEL CMD Manoj Jain emphasized the project’s long-term strategic importance, stating: “The AMCA represents India’s growing capabilities in defence technology. With L&T’s engineering strengths and BEL’s proven track record in electronics, we are confident of delivering a world-class solution that will serve the Air Force for decades.”

Previously, both companies collaborated on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program, where L&T provided aero-structure modules and BEL developed avionics and electronic systems. Building upon that foundation, the new partnership is expected to play a pivotal role in technology integration, system development, and timely execution of the AMCA, which stands as one of India's most ambitious defense projects to date.