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India’s pursuit of an indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter has achieved a major milestone. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has successfully concluded technical discussions to acquire GE Aerospace's F414 engines, which will power the initial prototype fleet of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
According to Defence Ministry sources, with the technical parameters firmly locked in, HAL and GE have now moved into the critical phase of commercial negotiations, ensuring the flagship project maintains its developmental momentum.
Securing a reliable propulsion system is one of the most complex challenges in developing a next-generation fighter.
The chosen powerplant, the GE F414 turbofan (specifically the INS6 variant tailored for Indian requirements), belongs to the 22,000-pound (98 kN) thrust class and features an advanced Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system.
Defence officials confirmed that while the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the broader AMCA programme was released recently with a two-month response window closing in late July, the engine technicalities were proactively fast-tracked so that prototype construction faces no bottlenecks.
Simultaneously, the Defence Ministry is moving swiftly to finalise the primary manufacturing partner for the aircraft.
RFPs were recently distributed to three major domestic industry groups vying for the lucrative contract: a consortium of Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), and a partnership between Bharat Forge and BEML.
The winning bidder will collaborate directly with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to manufacture five initial AMCA prototypes.
Once components are manufactured, these prototypes will be assembled and evaluated at a newly sanctioned, dedicated aerospace hub in Andhra Pradesh.
Further cementing this progress, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the ₹2,000 crore Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre at Puttaparthi in May 2026.
This state-of-the-art facility, situated on hundreds of acres newly allocated by the state government, will serve as the exclusive testing ground for the AMCA prototypes and is slated to become operational within the next year.
Supported by an overall ₹15,000 crore development budget, the AMCA stands as India's most ambitious combat aerospace endeavour to date.
The aircraft is being engineered with cutting-edge capabilities, including deep stealth, sensor fusion, artificial intelligence-driven systems, and the ability to command unmanned "loyal wingman" drones in modern, network-centric warfare.
If the current trajectory holds, the first AMCA prototype is scheduled to take to the skies by 2032.
Following a rigorous developmental testing phase, the Indian Air Force is projected to place an initial order for up to 120 fighters, with full-scale deliveries anticipated to begin around 2035.
