India Approves Plan to Build Its First Indigenous Stealth Fighter

India has officially greenlit the development of its first fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, marking a major step toward enhancing its domestic defense capabilities and establishing an indigenous aerospace ecosystem.

On May 27, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced the approval of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, clearing the way for the construction of its first prototype. The twin-engine stealth jet is designed to meet the criteria of a next-generation fighter, capable of both air dominance and strike missions.

Calling it a "significant milestone," Singh emphasized that the AMCA project will not only boost national security but also accelerate India’s self-reliance in advanced defense technology.

The program will be spearheaded by India’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), in collaboration with both public sector firms and private defense contractors. The Ministry of Defense stated that companies may bid individually or form joint ventures for the project.

While no official timeline was provided in the latest announcement, Indian media reports suggest the prototype could be rolled out within three years of approval, with a first flight expected roughly 12 to 18 months afterward.

A Two-Decade Vision Taking Shape

The AMCA project has been in the works since the early 2000s, when Indian defense planners identified stealth capability as essential to maintaining future air superiority. In 2008, as global focus intensified on fifth-generation aircraft, ADA was tasked with conducting feasibility studies.

By 2010, the Indian government had allocated seed funding to kickstart development. Initial phases focused on defining critical specifications such as low observability, advanced avionics, multirole flexibility (air superiority, ground attack, electronic warfare), and modular open architecture.

However, India faced steep hurdles—including a lack of indigenous stealth technology and the absence of a suitable homegrown engine. These constraints forced reliance on foreign suppliers and slowed progress.

India explored a joint venture with Russia in 2002 to co-develop a fifth-generation fighter based on the Su-57 platform. The partnership collapsed in 2008 over disputes about cost-sharing and technology transfer, leaving India to pursue AMCA as a fully indigenous project.

From Concept to Prototype

AMCA entered its preliminary design phase in 2015, followed by extensive wind tunnel testing and stealth validation experiments. In 2020, ADA produced scaled-down prototypes to study aerodynamics and radar cross-section performance.

Despite progress, the program has been plagued by bureaucratic delays and inconsistent funding—issues that have historically hindered Indian defense projects.

Momentum picked up again after a major aerial clash with Pakistan on May 7, during which more than 200 fighters were reportedly deployed by both sides. Pakistan claimed it downed five Indian jets, including three French-made Rafales, although India did not confirm the losses. The incident highlighted India's need for a domestically controlled next-generation fighter fleet.

What’s Next

With official approval now in place, AMCA is set to become the centerpiece of India’s future air combat strategy. The program is expected to drive innovation, create high-tech jobs, and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers at a time when geopolitical tensions and defense self-sufficiency are top priorities.

If successful, AMCA will position India among a select group of nations with indigenous fifth-generation fighter capability—alongside the U.S., China, and Russia.

(Sources: Reuters, Bulgarian Military, Firstpost)

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