In a landmark move that could redefine air power in South Asia, India has officially greenlit the development of its first indigenously developed stealth fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The decision, sanctioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, signals a bold step forward in India’s defence strategy, driven by the mounting threat from China’s J-20 fleet and Pakistan’s acquisition of the stealth-capable J-35A “Gyrfalcon.”
The Ministry of Defence released a statement confirming the approval: “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 approval of the AMCA comes amid escalating tensions and a complex strategic environment in Asia. With China fielding the J-20 Mighty Dragon and supporting Pakistan’s stealth ambitions via the J-35A, India finds itself confronting a credible two-front fifth-generation fighter threat.
According to multiple Indian defence sources and confirmed reports from Defence Security Asia, Pakistan is in advanced negotiations to procure up to 40 units of the Chinese-made J-35A. The aircraft, a carrier-capable stealth platform developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, shares radar-evading characteristics with the Chinese J-20 and the American F-35C, and could be inducted into the Pakistan Air Force by 2026.
The J-35A represents a quantum leap in Pakistan’s air combat capabilities. Designed with stealth shaping, internal weapons bays, and a combat radius of 1,250 kilometers, the J-35A is expected to shift the regional balance. Powered by the next-generation WS-19 turbofan engines, the fighter delivers high thrust, reduced infrared signatures, and potential thrust vectoring.
The aircraft also boasts compatibility with the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, a weapon system that has drawn serious concern from Western analysts. With a range exceeding 200 km, active radar guidance, and a dual-pulse motor, the PL-15 gives stealth fighters like the J-35A and J-20 a lethal advantage in beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat.
India has already seen the impact of these platforms during reported operations under “Operation Sindoor,” where J-10Cs equipped with PL-15 missiles played a key role in long-range aerial dominance.
To address this strategic imbalance, India is launching its most ambitious aviation programme to date. The AMCA will be developed as a fifth-generation stealth platform with supercruise capability, internal weapons carriage, and advanced electronic warfare systems. The fighter will integrate AI-powered sensor fusion to enhance pilot situational awareness.
“The AMCA is not just an aircraft; it is a strategic response,” said a senior official at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the design bureau responsible for the jet. “We are developing a platform that will meet or exceed the capabilities of contemporary stealth fighters.”
According to the Ministry of Defence, the first AMCA prototype could be rolled out by 2028-29, with series production beginning by 2032-33 and induction into the Indian Air Force targeted for 2034. The aircraft will complement the Tejas Mk1A and Mk2, forming the core of India’s air combat doctrine in the 2030s.
In a radical departure from India’s legacy procurement policies, the AMCA programme will invite bids from private sector firms. For the first time, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the state-owned aerospace giant, will not receive default production rights.
“HAL will have to compete on a level playing field,” said two senior defence officials. “They have the experience, but they must now prove their commercial and technical viability.”
The Defence Ministry is expected to issue an Expression of Interest (EoI) soon. Private players, including Tata Advanced Systems, Mahindra Defence, and Larsen & Toubro, are likely contenders. The programme could generate tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs and catalyze technological innovation across India’s aerospace and electronics sectors.
Industry analysts view this model as a potential game-changer. “Opening AMCA to private competition ensures accountability, innovation, and efficiency,” said defence expert Ajay Shukla. “It is a statement that India is serious about building a world-class aerospace industry.”
The strategic implications extend far beyond South Asia. With China projecting power into the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific, and Pakistan expanding its fifth-gen footprint, India’s ability to field stealth assets becomes a key deterrent.
Stealth aircraft fundamentally change the dynamics of air warfare. They shift the advantage from raw numbers to information dominance, enabling first-shot, first-kill capabilities at standoff ranges. In such an environment, traditional dogfights are replaced by electronic warfare, data fusion, and precision engagement.
Analysts warn that a tri-nation stealth arms race between China, India, and Pakistan could transform air combat in Asia. All three nations are developing or deploying platforms designed around stealth, long-range sensors, and advanced missiles like the PL-15, Meteor, and Astra Mk2.
“The airspace over the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean could become a contested electronic battlespace,” said retired Air Marshal Anil Chopra. “Winning future wars will be about who sees first, shoots first, and remains undetected.”
For India, the AMCA is no longer a defence aspiration. It is a strategic necessity. With adversaries fielding fifth-generation aircraft armed with long-range weapons and supported by integrated networks, the absence of an indigenous stealth fighter would leave India at a serious disadvantage.
