The Indian Air Force (IAF) is exploring ways to speed up the development of its ambitious fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), by potentially leveraging the expertise of the winner of a separate, large-scale fighter jet procurement.
This was indicated by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, at the India Today Conclave held at the Taj Palace in New Delhi on March 7-8, 2025.
Air Chief Marshal Singh suggested that the company winning the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender – a program to acquire 114 new fighter jets for the IAF – could also significantly contribute to the AMCA program. The MRFA competition is a major procurement, valued at billions of dollars.
The concept of using the MRFA competition to benefit the AMCA program isn't entirely new.
In the past, some foreign aircraft manufacturers, like Saab (offering the JAS-39 Gripen) and Dassault Aviation (offering the Rafale), have proposed comprehensive technology transfer and even co-development of the AMCA as part of their bids for the MRFA.
These proposals typically include assistance in crucial areas where India is seeking to improve its capabilities, such as engine design, radar systems, and stealth technology.
Air Chief Marshal Singh's comments reflect a practical understanding of the difficulties inherent in developing a fifth-generation fighter. While India has successfully developed the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), creating a fifth-generation aircraft requires specialized knowledge that foreign companies, which already operate advanced fighters like the Rafale or Gripen, possess.
Such a partnership could potentially speed up the AMCA's development, lower risks, and help ensure it meets international standards, particularly as countries like China are progressing towards sixth-generation fighter capabilities.
The MRFA tender, which began with a Request for Information (RFI) in 2018, is intended to address the IAF's declining number of fighter squadrons. The IAF currently operates 31 squadrons, significantly below its authorized strength of 42.
The competition includes a range of aircraft, such as the Dassault Rafale, Saab Gripen E/F, Lockheed Martin F-21, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Russian MiG-35 and Su-35.
A key requirement of the MRFA tender is "Make in India," meaning the winning aircraft must be manufactured in India with substantial technology transfer.
Air Chief Marshal Singh's proposal connects this procurement with the AMCA, implying that the selected manufacturer's involvement in domestic production could be expanded to include support for the fifth-generation program.
The IAF has previously suggested that the MRFA winner should collaborate with a private sector Indian company for production. This would not only meet the MRFA's requirement for domestic manufacturing but also help build the capability of private industry to contribute to AMCA production, potentially by 2035.
By connecting the MRFA production infrastructure with the AMCA, India could utilize foreign expertise to enhance the skills of its private sector, establishing a long-term capability for building advanced fighter jets.
Air Chief Marshal Singh's recommendation at the conclave involves transitioning the MRFA winner's manufacturing responsibilities to a private Indian company. This would give companies like Tata or Larsen & Toubro (L&T) practical experience in producing a modern fighter jet under foreign supervision, providing them with the necessary skills to potentially move into AMCA production.
For example, if Saab were to win the MRFA with the Gripen, its partnership with a private Indian firm could involve establishing assembly lines, integrating advanced electronics, and mastering quality control processes – all skills that would be directly relevant to the AMCA program.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under the DRDO, is the primary agency responsible for the AMCA's design and development. The program aims to create a twin-engine, stealth, multirole fighter to replace aging aircraft like the Jaguar and Mirage 2000 in the IAF's fleet. The initial rollout of a prototype is expected in the late 2020s, with series production potentially commencing in the next decade.
