May 27, Kathmandu- India is set to develop its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The central government has approved the production model of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The Ministry of Defense has said that along with government companies, private companies will also be allowed to bid for the aircraft. For this, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will issue a notification soon, Indian media reported.

In April 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved a Rs 15,000 crore project for the design and development of a fifth-generation indigenous fighter aircraft. This fighter aircraft is the ‘Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft’ (AMCA).

ADA is the nodal agency for the implementation of this program and designing the aircraft. ADA comes under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is claimed to be better than other fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

It will be equipped with high-tech stealth technology to avoid enemy radars. It is said to be similar to or better than other fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft in use internationally.

The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) will be the second indigenously developed fighter aircraft. Earlier, India has developed the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and its advanced version Tejas Mark-1. Work is underway on its more advanced version, Mark-1-A.

The AMCA is expected to be inducted into the Indian Air Force and Navy by 2025.

On July 30, the Air Force deployed the Tejas Mk-1 light combat aircraft at the Awantipora airbase in Jammu and Kashmir. The army said this was done so that pilots could practice flying in the valley.

Kashmir is sensitive for neighboring countries China and Pakistan. The Tejas Mk-1 is a multi-role light combat aircraft, which will strengthen the air force in the jungles and hills of Kashmir. The Indian Air Force currently has 31 Tejas fighter aircraft.