In a landmark move to bolster its air combat capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign defense imports, India has officially opened bids for the development of its first home-grown fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) on Wednesday to identify Indian firms capable of co-developing, prototyping, and flight-testing the aircraft.
✈️ AMCA: India’s Leap into Stealth Air Superiority
The AMCA will be a twin-engine, stealth-enabled, multirole fighter, designed to meet the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) future combat needs. The project aims to deliver six squadrons (approximately 120 aircraft) by 2035, with the first prototype expected to fly by 2029.
🏗️ Competitive Industry Model: Private Sector Gets a Shot
Breaking from tradition, the Ministry of Defence has approved a competitive execution model, allowing both public and private sector firms to participate. This opens the door for major players like Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro, Adani Defence, Mahindra Group, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to bid for the ₹15,000 crore project.
“Reputed Indian companies with aerospace and defense expertise, capable of absorbing AMCA’s design and executing development, integration, and testing, will be shortlisted,” the EOI states.
📅 Project Timeline and Key Milestones
- EOI Submission Deadline: August 16, 2025
- Pre-EOI Briefing: First week of July 2025
- Prototype Flight Target: 2029
- Full Development Completion: 2034
- Production Commencement: 2035
The selected firm must establish a dedicated manufacturing facility to support mass production.
🌐 Strategic Context: Responding to Regional Threats
The AMCA program comes amid growing regional tensions, with China already deploying its J-20 stealth fighters and developing sixth-generation platforms like the J-36 and J-50. Pakistan is reportedly eyeing China’s J-35 stealth jets, further intensifying the need for India’s indigenous stealth capability.
Despite offers from the U.S. (F-35) and Russia (Su-57), India remains committed to its self-reliance vision under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, choosing to develop the AMCA domestically.
Stay tuned for updates on shortlisted firms and prototype development.
