Why India Is Planning Own Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet After Conflict With Pakistan
In a major push to strengthen India’s aerial combat capabilities and bolster indigenous defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence has approved the execution model for the ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme — India’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter jet initiative.
On Tuesday, 27 May, the Defence Ministry announced that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had given his nod to the AMCA Programme Execution Model. “In a significant push towards enhancing India’s indigenous defence capabilities and fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model,” the Ministry stated.
Why India Is Planning Its Own Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter
As reported by NDTV, this comes amid reports that China may supply its J-35 stealth fighter jets to Pakistan — a move that could shift the air power balance in the region. Beijing is also testing sixth-generation fighter prototypes such as the J-36 and J-50, according to the South China Morning Post and defence analysts.
India, meanwhile, operates only 31 fighter squadrons against the sanctioned strength of 42, and at least eight more squadrons are expected to retire over the next decade. In this context, the AMCA programme becomes a critical national priority.
Fifth-generation fighter jets are known for their stealth, superior situational awareness, advanced sensors, and integrated battle network capabilities. According to Business Insider, such aircraft can cruise at supersonic speeds without engaging afterburners and avoid enemy radar detection, qualities that distinguish them from earlier-generation jets.
Only a few countries — including the United States, Russia, and China — currently possess operational fifth-generation fighter aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and Su-57.
India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft Programme
India’s AMCA programme has been in the pipeline since 2010. According to The Hindu, the aircraft will include a Divertless Supersonic Intake — an indigenous innovation — and is designed to be a 25-tonne twin-engine jet with stealth capabilities.
Dr Krishna Rajendra Neeli, project director at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), told the Indian Express that the AMCA would match or even surpass the capabilities of similar platforms globally. The aircraft is expected to carry up to four long-range air-to-air missiles and several precision-guided munitions.
According to The Print, the ADA is working with a 10-year timeline, with the first prototype scheduled for completion by 2031 and serial production expected to begin by 2035.
The AMCA project is further bolstered by a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision in March 2023, which approved the development of five prototypes with an initial allocation of ₹15,000 crore.
A Defence Ministry statement said the ADA will soon invite public and private Indian firms — such as HAL, Tata, Adani, and L&T — to submit bids either independently, as joint ventures, or as consortia. “The Execution Model approach provides equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis,” it said.
Economic Times noted that developing a fifth-generation jet involves not just stealth design, but innovations in propulsion, electronic warfare, and advanced networking systems. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also concurrently developing the indigenous Kaveri engine, intended for the LCA Tejas but with future AMCA applications in view.
As NDTV reported, the inclusion of private players was a key recommendation by a top defence committee earlier this year to reduce dependence on state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is already facing delays in the LCA Tejas programme due to slow engine deliveries from General Electric.
With China advancing its sixth-generation jet projects and aiding Pakistan’s air force with modern platforms like the J-10 and potentially the J-35, India’s AMCA is not just a technological aspiration — it is a strategic necessity.
The project also aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, reinforcing the vision of self-reliance in defence production while positioning India as a global aerospace contender.
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