As AMCA Prototype Takes Shape, Parallel Wind Tunnel Tests Will Refine Its Stealth and Aerodynamics, Ensuring Flawless First Flight by 2029

In a crucial step forward for India's premier indigenous defence project, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has initiated a tender to build highly detailed models of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) for intensive wind tunnel testing.

This development runs alongside the aircraft's ongoing design review and prototype manufacturing, signalling a critical phase of refinement for the fifth-generation stealth fighter's airframe and low-observability features.

The advanced testing is a standard and vital part of the development cycle for such complex aircraft and is not expected to delay the programme's ambitious timelines. The first flight of the AMCA is currently projected for 2029.

Officials associated with the project have clarified that these tests are designed to meticulously validate the aircraft's aerodynamic performance, the effectiveness of its flight control surfaces, and its critical stealth characteristics across a wide range of flight conditions.

The scale models will be subjected to subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds to collect precise data, which will help in finalising the aircraft's configuration before it takes to the skies.

An ADA official emphasised that the request for proposal for these models is a scheduled part of the iterative design and validation process. They expressed confidence that this testing phase will not impact the planned rollout of the first prototype, provided it continues in parallel with the critical design review and manufacturing, as is currently the plan.

The tender specifies the need for extremely precise, instrumented scale models of the AMCA. These models will be equipped with features such as surface pressure sensors and force balances to measure aerodynamic loads.

Importantly, they will also be used for evaluating the aircraft's Radar Cross-Section (RCS), a key measure of its stealth capability. Additionally, structural test boxes will be fabricated to analyse internal stress and load distribution during complex flight manoeuvres and when carrying weapons.

The AMCA programme, managed by the ADA under the broader Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), represents a significant leap in India’s military aviation capabilities.

The aircraft is being engineered as a multirole stealth fighter, incorporating advanced features essential for fifth-generation combat. These include an internal weapons bay to maintain a low radar profile, diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI) for efficient engine performance, serpentine air intakes to shield engine blades from radar, and the extensive use of radar-absorbent materials.

With the Cabinet Committee on Security having sanctioned ₹15,000 crore for the development of five prototypes, the project is now firmly in its execution phase.

The first prototype is anticipated to be ready by late 2028, leading up to its maiden flight in 2029.

Following a successful development and testing phase, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), in collaboration with a consortium of private Indian firms, will spearhead the series production.

While such extensive testing might appear to be a step back, it is a globally recognised best practice in aerospace engineering. This rigorous validation ensures that the final aircraft meets the stringent performance and survivability standards required to operate effectively in modern, contested airspace.

This latest move by ADA reinforces a commitment to thorough validation, aiming to deliver a robust and world-class combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

 

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[Somnath Sinhababu]

First, think about which jet engine will be used. Still no clarity. No deal with GE for F414. Neither is there any news about any partnership with Safran or RR, despite very unique offers given by them. I wonder how much it takes to just select an engine partner. This drama has been going on for so long now. They can't even build anything themselves, and even when they get foreign support, there's so much drama. What can I say? These government officials have sunk India in every sector.

 

[Vishwanath Vijay Thomre]

Looks all good at the prima facia of the project, though every thing looks good the multiple reasons are there to be concerned about the complete pack as the main obstacle lies with the core of AMCA its jet engine. Along side the AMCA we need to develop our indigenous jet engine at any cost. Parallel work should be performed to develop the Kaveri to boost the AMCA. I would prefer at least 2 of the 5 prototype to be run on Kaveri engine so that we will be totally in command of the project.

 

[Pankaj]

How many models will come out? Enough of models for now, we need a full-scale demonstration by 2027. Just fix a final model out of the last 8-9 years of facts and findings and start working on that model. The first and foremost target is to enter the world of 5th generation fighter jets. Models and refining are a continuous process that will always be there. Look at Russia, which is still struggling with the final model of their 5th generation fighter jet, the Su-57; the Chinese are also working on different models. Hence, the first thing is to roll out the first model.

 

[Akshat]

First, think about which jet engine will be used. Still no clarity. No deal with GE for F414. Neither is there any news about any partnership with Safran or RR, despite very unique offers given by them. I wonder how much it takes to just select an engine partner. This drama has been going on for so long now. They can't even build anything themselves, and even when they get foreign support, there's so much drama. What can I say? These government officials have sunk India in every sector.

Well the partner has already been chosen for almost 2 years now. This was a line from PMO's official press release in 2023 after PM's visit to Paris.

"In the future, India and France will extend their ground-breaking defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine."

India doesn't use the term combat aircraft for helicopters. So the only aircraft they could refer to in this statement is AMCA. As per my sources, France and India have already completed the negotiations on almost all aspects. Last aspect left was France's help in developing academic capability at university level in various fields related to jet engines. And this was at the start of this year. France had proposed something, DRDO had sent it's revised version. Rest everything is finalized. So you can expect the final version to be complete this year and the deal to be finalized soon as well. And the target was 2025, so we are more or less on track. If we finalize it this year, it will take 8 years to complete the project. That will be in line for AMCA Mk2 in 2035. Assuming no delays, of course.

 

[Vishwanath Vijay Thomre]

First, think about which jet engine will be used. Still no clarity. No deal with GE for F414. Neither is there any news about any partnership with Safran or RR, despite very unique offers given by them. I wonder how much it takes to just select an engine partner. This drama has been going on for so long now. They can't even build anything themselves, and even when they get foreign support, there's so much drama. What can I say? These government officials have sunk India in every sector.

There is no doubt that the bureaucracy is still ruining the Indian aspiration to be self reliant in many sectors. This need to be changed I mean when asked about the 5th gen fighter the reply from our Defense secretary Mr. Singh was absolute rubbish of concentrating on AMCA project which is not even on ground and just on paper, not on any foreign fighter jet may be China can say this as they already have two 5th gen on ground. That is so rubbish answer he should know that in war situation the IAF will be involved and he wont be seen anywhere near.

 

[Sandeep]

The CDR was frozen a while ago which is why they were able to move to the next stage which is to manufacture the jets prototype. The manufacturing company will be chosen soon but they should speed it up.

Obviously they can continue to make minor changes as they test the full scale model in the wind tunnel tests and radar absorption. But they can’t make any structural changes as that will require us to go back to the drawing board again.

 

[Avada kedavra]

Well the partner has already been chosen for almost 2 years now. This was a line from PMO's official press release in 2023 after PM's visit to Paris.

"In the future, India and France will extend their ground-breaking defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine."

India doesn't use the term combat aircraft for helicopters. So the only aircraft they could refer to in this statement is AMCA. As per my sources, France and India have already completed the negotiations on almost all aspects. Last aspect left was France's help in developing academic capability at university level in various fields related to jet engines. And this was at the start of this year. France had proposed something, DRDO had sent it's revised version. Rest everything is finalized. So you can expect the final version to be complete this year and the deal to be finalized soon as well. And the target was 2025, so we are more or less on track. If we finalize it this year, it will take 8 years to complete the project. That will be in line for AMCA Mk2 in 2035. Assuming no delays, of course.

So, you are saying the news of Rolls-Royce being a leader was fake?

By the way, I got the answer to your query of Rolls-Royce's "minimum contribution" to the EJ200 engine development. As per the Eurojet website (and some level of confirmation from AI), Rolls-Royce took the entire engine core section (high-pressure compressor section which includes the crucial high-pressure turbine) for themselves.

Same story for the development of the TP400-D6 engine (which powers the Airbus A400M transport aircraft).

Work allocation percentage gives equal weightage to all engine parts, so it doesn't tell the full story. The best example is the CFM collaboration.

For the CFM LEAP engine (used in Boeing 737 and Airbus A320neo), there's a 50-50 workshare split between General Electric and Safran on paper.

But just like Rolls-Royce, GE took the entire engine core section for themselves, while Safran was given all other non-essential areas.

So, what guarantee is there that if India and France were to collaborate on a new engine with the same 50-50 workshare on paper, that France won't take the entire core section only for themselves?

That's what happened with the Kaveri engine.

 

[capt mallick]

I think partnership with GE will yield better result but we should have another prj on kaveri parallely

 

[Hawkeye]

Do it fast; also, find the right engine.

 

[Akshat]

So, you are saying the news of Rolls-Royce being a leader was fake?

By the way, I got the answer to your query of Rolls-Royce's "minimum contribution" to the EJ200 engine development. As per the Eurojet website (and some level of confirmation from AI), Rolls-Royce took the entire engine core section (high-pressure compressor section which includes the crucial high-pressure turbine) for themselves.

Same story for the development of the TP400-D6 engine (which powers the Airbus A400M transport aircraft).

Work allocation percentage gives equal weightage to all engine parts, so it doesn't tell the full story. The best example is the CFM collaboration.

For the CFM LEAP engine (used in Boeing 737 and Airbus A320neo), there's a 50-50 workshare split between General Electric and Safran on paper.

But just like Rolls-Royce, GE took the entire engine core section for themselves, while Safran was given all other non-essential areas.

So, what guarantee is there that if India and France were to collaborate on a new engine with the same 50-50 workshare on paper, that France won't take the entire core section only for themselves?

That's what happened with the Kaveri engine.

No one from the GoI or any branch of it has ever said anything about RR leading. It has only been reported that multiple companies are being negotiated with in the process, with RR and Safran being identified by name.

And I never said RR had 'minimum contribution'. I said they don't have 100% tech, including some of the major components with which India needs help. I in fact gave the figure of 34% in R&D, and ~44% overall (after acquisition of an Italian firm).

But what I did mention is that RR doesn't have 100% tech, including some of the tech that we need and are lacking (based on Kaveri program). For example, one of the main components we are lacking is the after burner (publicly acknowledged). That was developed by Avio. Another area was compressors (as per reports). That is developed by MTU engines. So the 2 areas where DRDO actually has the biggest issues (apart from the high pressure turbines of course), RR has no involvement in those.

And no, there is no such guarantee. At all. But lets think about it for a second. The deals you mentioned were JVs with the individual companies not only dividing the development work share, but also the production work share. But in case of this engine, at least how the deal is being envisioned (or at least as per the info we have in public), India will get 100% ToT. So even if France does keep the entire core section for themselves, they will have to transfer it to DRDO, along with the IPR.

And 2 more points here. One, it is DRDO's job to make sure the work share is decided before the deal is finalized. That's the only 'guarantee' you can get. And I think that is being done. Remember, France never broke any deal that they signed. They refuse to sign the deal if they don't want to share something. But once the agreement is signed, they honor it. So get it in written before paying up. That holds true for not just France but any partner with whom we may sign the deal.

Secondly, lets think about it honestly. If DRDO could have developed the core section on it's own, we won't be partnering up with anyone, would we? This means that DRDO indeed wants France (or whoever is the final partner) to take the important sections, the tough ones, and then transfer the tech to us. We should, of course, make sure that we get the detailed data regarding the project. Because this isn't a school class where Safran/RR will tell sit with our scientists and slowly explain the basics to them and then guide them to derive the answer. They will mostly just give the answers. But along with the answers, this time we should also ask for the detailed rough work as well.

 

[Avada kedavra]

No one from the GoI or any branch of it has ever said anything about RR leading. It has only been reported that multiple companies are being negotiated with in the process, with RR and Safran being identified by name.

And I never said RR had 'minimum contribution'. I said they don't have 100% tech, including some of the major components with which India needs help. I in fact gave the figure of 34% in R&D, and ~44% overall (after acquisition of an Italian firm).

But what I did mention is that RR doesn't have 100% tech, including some of the tech that we need and are lacking (based on Kaveri program). For example, one of the main components we are lacking is the after burner (publicly acknowledged). That was developed by Avio. Another area was compressors (as per reports). That is developed by MTU engines. So the 2 areas where DRDO actually has the biggest issues (apart from the high pressure turbines of course), RR has no involvement in those.

And no, there is no such guarantee. At all. But lets think about it for a second. The deals you mentioned were JVs with the individual companies not only dividing the development work share, but also the production work share. But in case of this engine, at least how the deal is being envisioned (or at least as per the info we have in public), India will get 100% ToT. So even if France does keep the entire core section for themselves, they will have to transfer it to DRDO, along with the IPR.

And 2 more points here. One, it is DRDO's job to make sure the work share is decided before the deal is finalized. That's the only 'guarantee' you can get. And I think that is being done. Remember, France never broke any deal that they signed. They refuse to sign the deal if they don't want to share something. But once the agreement is signed, they honor it. So get it in written before paying up. That holds true for not just France but any partner with whom we may sign the deal.

Secondly, lets think about it honestly. If DRDO could have developed the core section on it's own, we won't be partnering up with anyone, would we? This means that DRDO indeed wants France (or whoever is the final partner) to take the important sections, the tough ones, and then transfer the tech to us. We should, of course, make sure that we get the detailed data regarding the project. Because this isn't a school class where Safran/RR will tell sit with our scientists and slowly explain the basics to them and then guide them to derive the answer. They will mostly just give the answers. But along with the answers, this time we should also ask for the detailed rough work as well.

If France keeps the entire core section for themselves, why would they give ToT then? That's illogical. India would just make the core by themselves. Why would they have France do it if they have the know-how?

There won't be 100% ToT. It's impossible. It will definitely be less than 100%, and whatever percentage is left out will definitely consist of the core section only. The weightage of workshare given will be equal to all, while in reality, it won't be equal. That's what Russia did in the AL-31FP deal and the US is doing in the F-414 deal.

All other parts Rolls-Royce didn't make can easily be made if they want to, once the core section is mastered. Other sections are a piece of cake.

The only limitation is that they couldn't fund the entire R&D, and the other nations put conditions that there should be employment for their own people in exchange for their contribution to the programme. Rolls-Royce already makes civilian engines all by themselves.

So don't take the workshare thing in a literal sense and "diss" Rolls-Royce like you are doing now. They have been in the business of making aeroplane engines from the World War era.

 

[Akshat]

If France keeps the entire core section for themselves, why would they give ToT then? That's illogical. India would just make the core by themselves. Why would they have France do it if they have the know-how?

There won't be 100% ToT. It's impossible. It will definitely be less than 100%, and whatever percentage is left out will definitely consist of the core section only. The weightage of workshare given will be equal to all, while in reality, it won't be equal. That's what Russia did in the AL-31FP deal and the US is doing in the F-414 deal.

All other parts Rolls-Royce didn't make can easily be made if they want to, once the core section is mastered. Other sections are a piece of cake.

The only limitation is that they couldn't fund the entire R&D, and the other nations put conditions that there should be employment for their own people in exchange for their contribution to the programme. Rolls-Royce already makes civilian engines all by themselves.

So don't take the workshare thing in a literal sense and "diss" Rolls-Royce like you are doing now. They have been in the business of making aeroplane engines from the World War era.

Buddy, the deal involved co-development, with Indian getting 100% ToT and IPR. So no matter who develops what, India will get the IPR and ToT of each and every nut and bolt. So it seems you haven't understood the concept as yet. India will get 100% ToT and 100% IPR. Nothing will be left out whatsoever. Safran has already made such an offer to India. It's unlike anything India has ever been involved in till date.

And no bro. It's not like RR could have made them if it wanted to. Remember, the engine was based on an existing engine from RR. But most of the parts were reworked. Not just manufacturing, but actual development was done all over again. This shows that RR's own engine was not up to the mark, or else no one would have spent money all over again. At best they would have asked RR to transfer the tech. Remember, even for third gen Ador engines, RR imported compressors from France. In fact, RR hasn't made any full engine on its own for over 4 decades now (for fighter jets).

And no, they ain't piece of cake. They are so difficult that RR simply couldn't make them. Civilian engines are not nearly as difficult as fighter jet engines. No after burner, is there,for example?

So indeed, the work share is absolutely literal. Anything else is just wishful thinking. RR doesn't know how to make a modern fighter jet engine and there is literal document to prove it, along with past examples.