Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has refuted recent media speculation suggesting it has been eliminated from the development and manufacturing phase of India's ambitious Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
The state-owned aerospace giant maintains that it is yet to receive any formal communication regarding a change in its role from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
This clarification comes in the wake of reports, primarily by The Economic Times, which claimed that HAL had lost the race to private sector conglomerates.
According to these reports, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Larsen & Toubro, and Bharat Forge have emerged as the frontrunners to partner with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) for this prestigious defence project.
Awaiting Official Word
In a firm response to the circulating rumours, HAL stated that without an official intimation from the DRDO, it cannot comment on what it terms "media speculation."The company reiterated that its position in the programme remains unchanged until a formal notification is issued.
The selection process for the industry partner—who will be responsible for manufacturing five prototypes of the AMCA—is reportedly in its final stages, with a decision expected within the next three months.
This selection is a critical milestone, shifting the programme from the design phase to physical realisation.
Note: Open-source information suggests that the potential exclusion of HAL cited in media reports may be linked to specific tender clauses discouraging companies with massive existing order books.
HAL’s order book currently stands at nearly eight times its revenue, leading to concerns about production capacity and delivery timelines for a high-priority project like the AMCA.
Strategic Focus and Long-Term Viability
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the AMCA, HAL emphasised its robust financial health and deep pipeline of strategic projects.The company highlighted that it is simultaneously advancing several critical platforms that will secure its production lines well past 2032.
Key programmes include:
- Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH)
- LCA Mk2 Fighter
- Combat Air Teaming System (CATS)
The AMCA: India’s 5th Generation Stealth Fighter
The AMCA programme represents India’s most significant indigenous military research and development effort to date.Backed by a government allocation of nearly ₹15,000 crore for the prototype phase, the project aims to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter.
Once operational, the AMCA is designed to be the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from the mid-2030s. Key features of the aircraft include:
- Advanced Stealth: Reduced radar cross-section and internal weapons bays.
- Supercruise Capability: Ability to fly at supersonic speeds without afterburners.
- Next-Gen Avionics: State-of-the-art sensor suites and data fusion.
A Shift in Defence Manufacturing
The current competitive landscape for the AMCA highlights a significant shift in India’s defence sector.The government is actively pushing to broaden the domestic industrial base by integrating private players into high-end defence projects.
If private firms are indeed selected over HAL, the AMCA could serve as a major test case for this public-private partnership model in complex aerospace manufacturing.
For now, HAL maintains a guarded optimism, awaiting the final decision from DRDO that will determine who will turn India’s next-generation fighter design into reality.
