AMCA Expected to be ready for production by 2033-34, Says DRDO

Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of the DRDO, recently revealed a significant advancement in India's aviation capabilities. The nation's ambitious 5th-generation fighter jet program, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is projected to be ready for production by 2033-34, with induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) anticipated from 2035 onwards.

This confirmation marks a substantial stride forward for India's air power, as the AMCA promises to be a quantum leap ahead of the current Tejas MkII and Mk1A. Kamat classified the AMCA as a 5.5th generation fighter jet, a designation indicating a significant technological edge over existing 5th-generation aircraft, a claim corroborated by the previous Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) Chief.

The timeline presented by Dr. Kamat aligns with the progress reported by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and ADA. After receiving Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval in March for the development of five AMCA prototypes, the maiden flight is estimated to occur in roughly four and a half years, potentially in late 2028 or early 2029.

Following the first flight, a rigorous testing phase of 4-5 years is expected to ensure the aircraft meets operational parameters and safety standards. This testing, extending into the early 2030s, is crucial for refining the aircraft's performance and integrating the numerous new technologies under development.

The AMCA program incorporates cutting-edge technologies that are a generation ahead of those used in the Tejas MkII and Mk1A. These advancements include:

• Stealth Capabilities: Reduced radar cross-section and advanced materials for enhanced stealth.
• Advanced Avionics: Next-generation avionics and electronic warfare systems.
• Supercruise: The ability to sustain supersonic flight without afterburners.
• Multirole Capability: Versatility in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

These technologies are currently under development and necessitate extensive testing to ensure they meet the demanding standards of modern aerial combat. The AMCA's advanced features naturally require a longer development and testing period compared to previous aircraft.

While Dr. Kamat did not specify whether the initial production model would be the AMCA MkI or the more advanced MkII (powered by a new upgraded engine), substantial progress indicated by HAL and ADA suggests a promising future for India's next-generation fighter jet program.

 

[Neal.B]

Take a chill pill sir. Our expectation is not that high.

 

[sanket]

I was always commenting AMCA going to b 5.5th Gen Fighter jet & Not 5th Gen .

 

[PKPRS]

I was always commenting AMCA going to b 5.5th Gen Fighter jet & Not 5th Gen .

As long as it comes out at-least 15 years from now, 5 or 5.5 it doesn’t matter as long as IAF likes and inducts them.

 

[Ravi]

Its actually a 6th generation fighter. 6th generation fighters are not only radar evading, but can't be physically seen as well.

 

[Mithu Roy]

DRDO is selling dreams.get tedbf and orka first and speed up Tejas mark 2.
You can't skip tenth and straight away leapfrog to AMCA.
If by 2030 we get the above that should be good

 

[Bharat007]

HAL is acting as a bunch of Sci-Fi story writers to distract people from their failure and never ending chronic delay. I am beginning to felt that with a friend like HAL, you don't need enemies.

 

[Pad UwU]

I smell more delays because of never ending changing specs😹😹😹
From 4.5gen to 5gen now they claiming it as 5.5gen... we didn't even build the tech, fly or own a 5gen yet😅😹 all this cancerous carrying our chair's to look superior its plainly stupid mentality.... With HAL the expectations is low to mid🙃

 

[Indiafirst]

Hopefully, when AMCA rolls out it will be X-generation, totally invisible by all means. Congratulations in Advance.

 

[NSR]

Instead of 2033, the realistic induction is UNKNOWN as there is no suitable engine to man it up.
Perhaps Indian can have at most a AMCA Mk I 4++ or 5--- 5th Generation with two GE F414 engines.
That is the present realistic status.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

I was always commenting AMCA going to b 5.5th Gen Fighter jet & Not 5th Gen .

You can say it 7th gen also. The thing is it'll be as realistic and concrete as my dreams.

 

[Ranjeet Singh]

Tiil then India should buy India specific 60+ F-35A ! See Turkiye ,China are helping Pakistan to get 5th gen fighter and Russia denied India FGFA tech, what left for India is to buy and make India specific F-35a, F-35B for IAF and IN We can't trust ADA/HAL time lines !

 

[Saisri Varshan]

Understand we need to develop techs from scratch for this advanced aircraft. Make sure all the effort money and time to develop this fighter not in vain.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to quickly start constructing the prototypes and reduce the amount of time it will take to build them from 4.5 to 2 years as it shouldn’t take that long to construct it and have its first flight. It will take around 5 years to run all of the tests as they need to make sure the technology and engineering is safe and it can carry out all of the capabilities of a 5.5th generation jet that we stated it can do which is understandable.

At the same time they will need to carry out some fine tuning to the software, technology and hardware to improve it’s performance and fighting capabilities but this is normal for every new jet and shouldn’t delay the rollout.

Right now the AMCA jet should take priority and we should provide whatever resources, staff and money they need no matter what.

 

[AK S]

HAL is acting as a bunch of Sci-Fi story writers to distract people from their failure and never ending chronic delay. I am beginning to felt that with a friend like HAL, you don't need enemies.

ADA is the dominant actor. HAL is barely a guest actor. HAL bashing is the most favourite tool of the foreign influence peddlars. Here are few fun facts:

HAL took about 3 years for first flight of MK1A. Dassault took nearly 5 years to deliver the first Rafale with all India Specific Enhancements, mere enhancements. Add to it, Dassault is a renowned private foreign OEM.

IAF (+ MoD) took 3 years after RFP response to place MK1A orders. Add to it, Both IAF and HAL reports into MoD.

IAF is beholden to foreign products and it is the bane. IAF spent $2.5B on upgrade (No AESA, no decent BVR AAM) of 50 Mirages about 15 years ago and those Mirages are still WIP. With that money, they could have easily ordered 4-5 squadrons of MK1 with additional production lines. Instead IAF continued with an order of 40 and invested only for 5 LCA hangars - project running nearly 8 years. HAL is short there but not what you suggest.

MoD and IAF is running MRFA circus for two decades and the show is on.

Now mull over and decide your friends and enemies. I find issues in the system itself.

 

[Mango_Indian]

Abhi bhi time hai...order SU-57 or F-35 to avoid having a gap in 5th gen aircraft in IAF fleet for 15 years. HAL Chairman will get his salary and pension even if all he produces are mosquitoes and flies....he is least bothered.

Wake up....order SU-57 in fully built and imported state, no Tech Transfer or manufacturing in India as all it will do is increase the cost for screwdriving in India or G2G deal for F-35. My personal choice is SU-57 of the 2 as it has matured and with the Izdeliye 30 engines and will come at a lower price than F-35, notwithstanding the fact that US is still not a trusted partner for aircraft.

 

[sanket]

As long as it comes out at-least 15 years from now, 5 or 5.5 it doesn’t matter as long as IAF likes and inducts them.

Most of the Tech already developed Not 15 years only 10 years.

 

[Sanatani Yodha]

I was always commenting AMCA going to b 5.5th Gen Fighter jet & Not 5th Gen .

Wait for another 10 yrs and it will magically become 6th gen fighter…. 🤣🤣

 

[Dredd]

I was always commenting AMCA going to b 5.5th Gen Fighter jet & Not 5th Gen .

I have been hearing that AMCA would be 5.5 gen from last 5 years but no one ever mentioned what feature would make it 5.5 gen Jet or better than current F-35 block 4 which is best 5th gen out in the sky. it's just cool to say 4.5 gen 5.5 gen. minus 5 gen when you don't have any thing to show and just buying time before you retire and live on fat pension.

 

[Man H]

Sirji, release it in 2047 when India becomes 100 years old! Nice time to release such a beauty

 

[kumar]

Buying f35 is like offering ourselves to deep state. Timely approval for projects is a must, else we will face stiff competition like this.

 

[Aravind]

Surely not, after 2040 also you will say samething only. Even Tejas mk2 will come at 2030 don't know.

 

[PKPRS]

Most of the Tech already developed Not 15 years only 10 years.

We can currently do only 60% of 4th gen technology, which they are trying really hard to increase to 70%, so there is remaining 40% 4th gen tech we need to learn before jumping to 5/5.5 and 6th gen.