India To Develop Five AMCA Prototypes Ahead Of Series Production, Says Rajnath Singh

India will develop five prototypes of its fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) before moving into series production, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday (29 May).

"Under the AMCA project, there is a plan to develop five prototypes which will later go into series production," Singh said.

Singh also said that the government has already approved the execution model for the AMCA.

"You will be pleased to know that just two days ago, the execution model for the AMCA project — to develop a fifth-generation fighter aircraft entirely in India — was approved," he said.

"This decision should be considered a milestone in the history of the Make in India programme, as for the first time, a mega defence project will see participation from both public sector companies and private sector players," Singh said.

The AMCA is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with significant private sector participation.

The first prototype is anticipated to be unveiled between 2028 and 2029, with manufacturing projected to commence in the timeframe of 2032 to 2033.

The AMCA is intended to perform a multitude of missions including air supremacy, ground-strike, Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and electronic warfare (EW) missions.

The AMCA design has inherent radar stealth, achieved through twin-tail layout, platform edge alignment and serration, body conformal antenna and low intercept radar, diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) with serpentine ducts which conceal engine fan blades, internal weapons bay and extensive use of composites in airframe.

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