India Unlikely to Join FCAS and GCAP 6th-Gen Fighter Jet Programs, Seeks to Focus on Indigenous AMCA Development

India appears poised to decline offers to join international 6th-generation fighter jet programs, opting instead to concentrate on its own Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project.

Despite receiving proposals from Germany and Spain to participate in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and an invitation from the UK-Japan-Italy consortium to join the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), India remains committed to its indigenous AMCA.

While official discussions with the UK regarding GCAP have been confirmed, India has not publicly acknowledged the German and Spanish proposals. This suggests a strong inclination towards self-reliance in developing its next-generation fighter capabilities.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have emphasized their focus on the AMCA, a 5.5-generation fighter designed to bridge the gap between current 5th-generation technology and future 6th-generation platforms. The AMCA is expected to incorporate advanced stealth capabilities, supercruise functionality, and cutting-edge avionics.

DRDO asserts that the AMCA will integrate technologies often associated with 6th-generation fighters, such as artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and low-observability features. The AMCA is slated for initial induction by 2035, with its development providing valuable experience for a full-fledged 6th-generation project post-2040.

The AMCA's design philosophy aims to position it as a “5.5-generation” platform, incorporating significant advancements over existing 5th-generation fighters. This includes features like directed energy weapons and AI-assisted mission management systems.

Although declining to join the FCAS or GCAP programs at this stage, India recognizes the importance of developing a 6th-generation platform in the long term. The AMCA's success is expected to lay the groundwork for future projects, with the development of a 6th-generation fighter anticipated to commence in the 2040s, targeting induction by 2050.

 

[Surendra Barsode]

Because we are inept enough as it is when it comes to aircraft development. No one will join, even if invited, unless we can show that we can do a whole project by ourselves on schedule.

As for the nations you mentioned, well, here goes: Brazil doesn't have enough money. South Africa is a failed state and a failing economy. Egypt is too busy enriching the political class using IMF funds. Singapore is a close US ally and operates jets like the F-35. Indonesia doesn't spend a lot on its military and appears to be working with South Korea. The Philippines is also a close US ally and has no money.

Agree with you about the conditions of various countries. But each of them can join and fund about 40-50 percent, and that should be good enough for the project. We will have to do it on time and with focus as other countries are involved too.

 

[Sandeep]

India should definitely join as an observer to see the technology, ideas and capabilities that they are designing and developing.

The main problem that India will face will be the cost if we partnered with them and who manufactures what parts or technology along with who has access control to the software etc.

India should definitely focus on developing the AMCA as a 5th generation jet and quickly get the job done. Also let them develop their jet and we can always just import a squadron or two to bolster our air defence and 5th generation fighters.

 

[Anant]

These guys just want to milk money from India. What can India a country which hasnt even properly mass produced 4.5 Gen fighters offer to a 6th Gen program? We will become like Indonesia in it's KF21 Boramae program lol.

Last I checked, none of the GCAP participants except Japan have developed a 5th generation jet either. The simple fact is that this is a very costly endeavour, hence you have multiple nations teaming up. Do remember that even the F-35 was a multi-national program.

 

[Raja Raja Cholan]

Remain committed to indigenous AMCA which is touted as a 5.5 gen fighter and aiming to bridge the gap between 5th and 6th gen fighters all that is fine, the objective is good. But how is it to collaborate with group of engineers from countries with vast knowledge in advanced technologies is going affect Indian defence industries indigenous planned progression to 6th gen fighter aircraft. It is not going to affect the learning curve to enhance knowledge of the Indian engineers in anyway either. So why shy away from collaborating in GCAP project which will bring wealth of knowledge which could be very valuable in our AMCA, TEDBF and other future projects. Hopefully HAL will be there in 2035 with AMCA taking to the sky.

 

[ramdas]

Collaboration offers significant advantages; we shouldn't reject or overlook these opportunities. This government seems to have a big ego and an attitude that the country can advance in sixth-generation capabilities independently. However, programs like the LCA MKIA, MK2, and AMCA are all running behind schedule. Delays in decision-making have dramatically increased costs, resulting in a lack of tangible achievements for the government to showcase to the public.

 

[Abuiase Az]

When India is able to produce 5th gen AMCA, China would have produced their 7th gen aircraft.

 

[Pad UwU]

Last I checked, none of the GCAP participants except Japan have developed a 5th generation jet either. The simple fact is that this is a very costly endeavour, hence you have multiple nations teaming up. Do remember that even the F-35 was a multi-national program.

Last time I checked France and Germany neither Spain didn't have technology development for 5gen.... Unlike Japan, Italy and UK have a hands on of development for certain systems for 5gen they even have experience or know-how knowledge of it so skipping it bypass it's needs to developing 5gen, because they are one of the developer of f35 systems and they have other systems beyond applicable for f35....

 

[Shanker]

I believe that they're inviting us to share the development cost and buy fully built crafts as a partner and keep importing their expensive components here for 'local' production. So, India's participation in their program is good business proposition for them.

Whether, India gets anything worthwhile out of that deal is a million dollar question!

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

This is plain stupidity. Having experienced the truths about claims by oru DPSUs until now any idiot will know that it's even worse than day dreaming.
we should join or atleast be an observer in these programs so that we can get whatever knowledge why and know how from the more advanced nations.

 

[Mark Williamson]

I think you should join the GCAP program. Why try and do things yourself when your security is in a critical situation. There is nothing wrong with partnerships and building allies. By the time the fighter is ready, India's economy will be much larger than it is today. You can afford it especially if you are the 3rd largest economy in the world. If your internal development is delayed or is not competitive then what will you do? Join the GCAP and learn valuable intel on 6 gen technology. It will also help ramp up your manufacturing giving you the technical expertise to build other next generation weapons.

 

[LookingBack]

The moment we say Indian can't make 4th Gen with 50KN or above thrust aren't we assuming that we can easily develope 3rd Gen 50KN engine?

When China shows fighters with higher thrust certainly that proves their claim of overcoming thrust issue should be believable.

In contrast, where is our actual short coming? Is it Gen or Thrust? Or both of them?

 

[Indiafirst]

I don't understanding the logic why India can't join FCAS or GCAP while simultaneously pursuing AMCA program, when India 's economy is doing well and poised to grow further?
Can any explain please?

 

[Renu Sri]

Wait, let the final output come out. We will have several options to buy ( 6th gen) if our AMCA fails to pan out as expected.

It is important to build inhouse eco system

 

[Calvin]

Being self reliant is a good thing.. but we should start with the ordinary household items first... Life furniture, electronic items, washing machines, cooking ovens, air conditioners, plastic items etc and even defense related items like ammunition, engines, motors, gen sets etc...but we should not be delaying the acquisition of fighter aircraft, awacs and other special role aircraft until HAL and the DRDO Get their act together. This has already put India at a disadvantage and the situation will get extremely worse if we wait another 5-10+ years to field the required number of squadrons as we're already behind by that many years... Why we keep giving these PSUs our hard earned money - that we can ill afford - seems to be very very stupid and is going to cost us dearly. Change the management or change policy as we are heading for a major disaster if we don't change our acquisition policy.

 

[Varaaah]

Focus on making the Tejas an all-out success. That will give you everything you need to develop and manufacture other planes at high speed. Who the heck advises these people?

 

[Ayyadurai Namasivayam]

Good decision. Already we are struggling for 4th gen fighter and we do not have any knowledge in 6th gen technologies. So we have to just watch what is going on.

 

[Selven]

Join the program. 5 and 6 generation aircraft are super complex. Even the USA has had to collaborate with other countries.. EU as well obviously.
India now is so far behind, best they have partners for this. Continue with AMCA if you like ad a longer term solution

 

[RG]

It would be better to involve Indian private sectors in planning and research, adopton of new technology, building of capacities in future tech etc, rather than outright joining hand and spending money in joint ventures, were time and money is wasted by public sector without much gain.

 

[Pandurang Kalyan Khudanpur]

India doesn't want to join other countries for development of 6th generation planes due to lack of fund. Either it will have scrap AMCA or allocate more funds from budget. Allocation from budget means discontinuing freebies, which no political party will dare to.

 

[Bhadrinath]

India should be part of both programs and develop AMCA as well. Each is having unique tech and India can leverage from them. We have good amount of money to be part of all these. And those who support only Atma nirbharta, I say to them that all these will be manufactured in India once agreements take place. Yes it's costly for us. But think if Nehru stepped back building the dams, Homi Bhabha stepped back from building Nuclear facilities, if Vajpayee did not press the button, India would have been at rock bottom now. These are all future investments. If given this chance to China it will pay even double amount to grab it. At the same time, I highly push for Indegenization of all these tech.

 

[Aviator Suri]

Design/development/manufacture of a Sixth Gen fighter and it's engine requires exorbitant funds , which no single country, barring USA could afford in today's world. Even European countries collaborate with each other in such projects to bring the costs down. It would only be prudent for India to join as a partner in the Franco-German-Spanish GCAP consortium on such a project, so that we learn something from them. We could even expand this team to include Brazil and South Korea, who are also aircraft designers/manufacturers.
We shouldn't join the other consortium (FCAS) which has UK-Italy-Japan, as UK is not trust-worthy and they also want to bring in Turkey, a close ally of Pakistan. Japan also is too rigid and not flexible on certain issues, whereas Italy is on the blacklist due to the Agusta-Westland scam.
We could incorporate India-specific minor mods in the weapon systems etc on the Indian production line.

 

[P2S2]

What about the critical time period between its induction and now? Even Pakistan will have 5th gen fighters from China before 2028. While we would have only 4.5+ and 4.5++ at max until 2035. I know the good infrastructure surrounding the air force like Air Defence systems etc. is just as important to serve as a deterrent (something that Pakistan clearly doesn't have.) But still, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Wouldn't joining the FCAS or GCAP (I know the cost argument) better our chances of achieving accelerated completion of AMCA, especially since it will be a 5.5 gen fighter?

India is big, it has manpower resources, it has skills and education abilities. It needs to start promoting Field Marshalls to manage scenarios. Lets go all out earning the money required. Now is the time, hit the metal while it is hot. Set up competing Field Marshalls heading FCAS, GCAP, competing against AMCA and two going all out to fund the national efforts. Turn the tables around NOW at the crucial moment. We have the brains to reoccupy the future.