India’s Fifth-Gen Stealth Fighter Project Enters Detail Design Phase; To Use US-Made F414 Engine Initially

India’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft project, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has now reached the detail design phase (DDP), with hundreds of scientists from the DRDO and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) now working relentlessly to make critical breakthroughs, reports DefenceNews. The current plan is to use the US-made F414 engine on the AMCA for the initial few years.

The F414 can produce thrust of more than 90kN, but a higher thrust engine to be produced indigenously is planned with a capacity of 110kN. The American made engine is also going to be used on the Tejas MK-II.

As of now, the design phase of the AMCA has been approved to start activities, the final green light for the fifth-generation platform is yet to be granted by the centre. Funding of Rs 400 crore for the DDP was cleared last year.

“This is for the first time ever in the country we are on a stealth design and the challenges are unique here. However, an advantage is we just have to concentrate on the fifth-generation technologies like stealth since we have already mastered all the fourth-generation technologies through LCA,” an official stated.

The aim is to develop four prototypes and fly one before 2025. The fifth-generation aircraft will have stealth capabilities and other high-tech attributes such a consolidated network of sensors. Currently, only the US and China have combat-ready fifth-generation fighters.