India May Invite Global Partners to Join AMCA Program After Inaugural Flight, Aims to Reduce Costs and Deliver Export-Ready Stealth Jet

India is reportedly planning to open its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program to international collaboration following the jet's first flight. This strategic decision seeks to position the AMCA as an export-ready fifth-generation stealth fighter while also mitigating the substantial financial burden associated with its development and production.

The AMCA, a flagship project for India's indigenous defence industry, is crucial for modernizing the Indian Air Force (IAF). However, sources suggest that India also has ambitions to capture a share of the global defence market with this advanced fighter.

By inviting partner nations to join the program after its inaugural flight, India aims to offer an alternative to existing fifth-generation fighters like the F-35, Su-57, and J-20. This could be particularly attractive to countries that have limited access to such technology due to geopolitical factors or budgetary constraints.

Developing a fifth-generation fighter jet is a complex and costly undertaking. The AMCA program faces significant financial hurdles, particularly in developing a new engine and establishing a private sector-led production line. International collaboration offers a way to manage these costs. By bringing in partner nations early on, India can leverage economies of scale to reduce the per-unit cost of the AMCA, making it a more competitive offering in the global market.

According to sources, several countries are already closely monitoring the AMCA's progress. These nations are eager to acquire fifth-generation fighter technology and represent potential partners and future customers for the AMCA.

The aircraft's first flight is expected to be a pivotal moment, generating increased international interest and potentially attracting further collaborators. This broader coalition would not only share the financial burden but also contribute to the AMCA's development and production, ensuring it remains a cutting-edge fighter jet.

This approach reflects a growing trend in the global defence industry, with collaborative projects like the Eurofighter Typhoon demonstrating the benefits of shared development and production. By opening the AMCA program to international partners, India is aiming to secure its place in the competitive fifth-generation fighter market while bolstering its indigenous defence capabilities.

 

[Benith Israel]

No country except India will touch any DRDO developed aviation equipment with a barge pole

 

[swatkats_razor]

No country except India will touch any DRDO developed aviation equipment with a barge pole

Armenia has been of lately pursuing DRDO developed weapons like hot-cakes.

Morocco has been acquiring Tata WHAp which was developed by DRDO.

DRDO is a research organisation, not a defence contractor. It works on projects which have high chances of failure. And DRDO's record isn't exactly impeccable.

But your complaint is directed more towards corporation such as HAL/BEML et al. because they are contractors and should be held responsible for the products they develop and service.

 

[Gururag Kalanidhi]

Lol. Why would foreign partners want to join a fighter program that is powered by American Engines? The only countries who may want to join (i.e the ones who have a need for a 5th Gen fighter and have the budgets for the same) are all on F35 or Boramae or TFX program. European partners will opt for Tempest. Except Indonesia, none of the South East Asian partners would want to sink cost into a 5th Gen fighter as all of them will opt for coastal defence and naval presence. Even if the India thinks it can offer, it will pretty much go the same way as Tejas.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Great strategy by GOI/DRDO. I'm sure many countries would like to have AMCA, a 5.5 gen fighter, in their inventory. I hope the first flight takes place in 2029. Competition is tough though with F35, J35, KaaN, KF21, and a few 6th gen aeroplanes post 2035. Cost could be a defining factor.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

With the number of other programs being developed Boramae, Kaan, Tempest and all of them being developed on schedule, and India’s notorious reputation of never developing anything on time, nobody in their right senses would opt as a partner for AMCA !!