India’s ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter project — the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) — has entered a decisive phase, marking a watershed moment in the country’s quest for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. With seven powerful consortia vying for the opportunity to co-produce the aircraft, the forthcoming decision will shape the future of India’s air combat capabilities for decades.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is spearheading the aircraft’s design and development. To select the industrial partner, ADA has launched a two-stage evaluation process, ensuring that only the most capable bidder is chosen for this complex, high-stakes program.
In the first stage, a technical committee comprising senior DRDO officials will rigorously assess the technological depth and manufacturing readiness of each applicant. The second stage will see a high-level panel led by the Defence Secretary reviewing these recommendations and finalising the winning consortium.
The selected partner will shoulder the responsibility of producing an estimated 126 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), a deal valued at over ₹15,000 crore (approximately $1.8 billion). The terms are demanding: the winner must ensure at least 70% indigenous content, seamless integration of homegrown technologies like the Uttam AESA radar, and maintain strict cost and schedule discipline.
The decision carries enormous strategic weight. The IAF currently operates around 31 fighter squadrons — well short of its sanctioned strength of 42. The AMCA, expected to enter service by 2035, is central to bridging this capability gap with a state-of-the-art stealth platform tailored for 21st-century warfare.
The initial DRDO evaluation, due to conclude by early 2026, will focus on technical expertise in critical stealth fighter domains such as radar-absorbent materials, composite airframes, and supercruise-capable engines. The subsequent Defence Secretary-led panel will conduct a strategic review, weighing factors like export potential and compliance with the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
The competition features a formidable lineup of public and private sector players, each bringing unique competencies:
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL): With its experience in designing, assembling, and certifying the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, HAL remains India’s aerospace cornerstone. Its vast infrastructure and established supply chain make it a leading contender for the final assembly role.
- Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL): Renowned for agile manufacturing and global partnerships, TASL already produces C-295 transport aircraft fuselages and components for Boeing and Lockheed Martin, giving it strong credentials in precision aerospace production.
- Adani Defence & Aerospace – MTAR Technologies: This consortium leverages strengths in unmanned systems and high-volume precision engineering, exemplified by the Drishti-10 drone program.
- Larsen & Toubro (L&T) – Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL): A potent combination of heavy engineering and advanced electronics. L&T’s expertise in precision systems (like the K9 Vajra howitzer) and BEL’s leadership in radar and avionics (including the Uttam AESA radar) could make this team a technology powerhouse.
- Goodluck India Consortium: Partnering with BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd. (BATL) and Axiscades Technologies, this group offers niche strengths in composite materials and missile-related manufacturing.
- Bharat Forge Consortium: Backed by BEML Ltd. and Data Patterns, this alliance boasts solid capabilities in forged components, propulsion elements, and electronic warfare (EW) systems.
- Defence experts suggest that a hybrid consortium — combining HAL, TASL, and the L&T-BEL partnership — could offer the most balanced and low-risk model for executing the AMCA program.
- HAL as the Assembly Anchor: HAL’s decades of experience with the Tejas program position it as the natural lead for final assembly, testing, and certification. Its ability to manage complex supply chains and meet stringent airworthiness standards will be vital in avoiding the delays that plagued earlier indigenous projects.
- TASL for Agile Manufacturing: TASL brings the efficiency of modern private-sector production and integration into global aerospace ecosystems. Its flexibility and access to advanced tooling could streamline production for the GE-F414-powered AMCA Mk1, while lowering overall costs.
- L&T-BEL for Avionics Mastery: The L&T-BEL alliance would serve as the technological heart of the fighter, delivering cutting-edge sensors, avionics, and EW systems. With BEL leading the radar and electronic warfare development and L&T providing structural and systems integration expertise, the combination ensures a sophisticated, indigenous electronic suite — a defining feature of fifth-generation fighters.
Expected by mid-2026, will not only determine the AMCA’s industrial partner but also symbolise India’s maturing defence ecosystem. For the first time, public and private industries are competing — and potentially collaborating — on a platform meant to rival the F-35 and J-20 in capability.
The AMCA project could transform India’s aerospace sector, enabling global exports and deepening self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. As the world watches, the outcome of this contest may well decide whether India’s next-generation stealth fighter takes flight as a truly indigenous success story — or remains a promise deferred.
