India's flagship fifth-generation fighter jet program, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), has achieved a significant manufacturing milestone.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the lead design agency for the project, has officially begun issuing work orders for the structural components of the first AMCA prototype.
This development marks a critical transition for the program from the design board to the factory floor.
According to official sources, the release of these manufacturing orders aligns perfectly with the project's timeline, occurring exactly one year after the program's official start date was set.
These initial orders are for crucial airframe assemblies that will form the aircraft's core structure. The timely execution of this phase is essential to keeping the ambitious project on track for its scheduled rollout and subsequent flight testing.
Following a highly stringent technical evaluation, the Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to a select group of only eight Indian vendors. This careful selection process underscores the project's focus on precision engineering and quality control, which are paramount for developing a stealth aircraft.
The chosen companies represent India’s leading private and public sector firms in aerospace and defence manufacturing, selected for their advanced infrastructure and proven expertise.
The AMCA is designed to be a twin-engine, multirole stealth fighter, placing India in an elite group of nations with the capability to produce such advanced aerial platforms.
Key features of the fifth-generation aircraft include a very low radar cross-section (stealth), the ability to travel at supersonic speeds without using afterburners (supercruise), and advanced avionics with artificial intelligence for superior situational awareness.
This move to begin manufacturing provides a substantial boost to the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative in the defence sector. By involving domestic firms in building such a cutting-edge system, the AMCA program is fostering a specialised industrial ecosystem.
The next stage will involve the assembly of these manufactured components into the first complete prototype, which will then undergo extensive ground testing before its maiden flight, anticipated in the coming years.
