Aero India 2023: DRDO Chief Gives A Definitive Timeline For First Flight, Induction Of India's Stealth Fighter AMCA
A model of AMCA displayed at Aero India 2021. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman Samir Kamat in an interview with ANI revealed the timelines for the induction of the AMCA and Tejas MK-2 at the sidelines of Aero India 2023.
Kamat said that the first flight of Phase-1 AMCA with the American GE-F414 engine will happen after seven years. The induction will take another three years, extending the timeline further to the 2032-2033 timeframe.
The timeline for Phase-2 of AMCA, Kamat said, could only be predicted after the partner for the co-development of the new higher-thrust engine is selected.
"We have been holding discussions with Safran France, GE from the US, and Rolls Royce from the UK," the DRDO chief said on the selection of a partner for the co-development of the higher thrust engine.
The DRDO chief also announced that the Tejas MK-2 will be ready for induction by 2028. Tejas MK-2 will use the same American GE F414 engines that will be used by AMCA Phase-1.
About the local manufacturing of the GE engines, Kamat said that “the discussions with GE are underway and they are keen on it. We are just awaiting clearance by the US government.”
He said the engines would be manufactured indigenously once the clearance comes through from the US government.
Kamat also said that “in the next 3-6 months, an announcement of the transfer of technology will happen and these engines would be made in the country itself”.
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