Recently released graphics of India's indigenous fifth-generation fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), have provided a clearer view of its sophisticated sensor suite, confirming its role as a highly capable multi-role stealth aircraft.
The new details highlight the integration of an advanced Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) for ground attacks, which will work alongside a powerful Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system for air-to-air combat, significantly enhancing its tactical capabilities.
Developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and to be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the AMCA is central to the Indian Air Force's (IAF) modernization plans.
The new images show a distinct, faceted aperture under the aircraft’s nose, which houses the EOTS. This system is designed to provide high-resolution imagery of ground targets, allowing pilots to precisely identify and engage objectives such as enemy vehicles, infrastructure, and troop positions from a safe distance. Its design helps to minimise the aircraft's radar signature, a critical feature for maintaining stealth.
The AMCA's design incorporates a dual-sensor strategy to dominate both aerial and ground warfare. While the EOTS is optimised for detailed surveillance and targeting on the ground, the previously announced IRST system is tuned for detecting the heat signatures of enemy aircraft, drones, and incoming missiles at very long ranges.
This allows the AMCA to track airborne threats passively without using its own radar, which could reveal its position to the enemy. This combination of sensors gives the pilot exceptional situational awareness and the flexibility to switch between air superiority and precision strike missions seamlessly.
Enhancing this capability further is a third system known as the Distributed Aperture System (DAS). The DAS consists of multiple infrared sensors placed around the aircraft's airframe to provide an unobstructed 360-degree view of the surrounding airspace.
This system integrates data from both the EOTS and IRST, creating a comprehensive, real-time picture of the battlefield. This allows the AMCA to detect and track multiple threats from any direction, a crucial advantage against advanced adversaries, including other stealth aircraft.
The integration of these advanced systems is a direct response to the evolving security landscape in the region.
With China operating its J-20 stealth fighter and Pakistan continuously upgrading its air force, India requires a platform that can establish air dominance and conduct precise strikes in heavily contested environments.
The AMCA's advanced sensor suite, combined with other fifth-generation features like supercruise, internal weapons bays, and state-of-the-art avionics, is designed to provide the Indian armed forces with a critical technological and strategic advantage.
The AMCA programme achieved a major milestone in March 2024 when India's Cabinet Committee on Security approved funding for the development and construction of five prototypes.
The project aims for the first flight of the prototype to take place by 2027 or 2028, with the aircraft expected to enter full-scale production and service in the early 2030s.
The aircraft will be equipped with a range of indigenous weapons, including the Astra series of air-to-air missiles and the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), strengthening India's self-reliance in national defence.
