Recent air combat incidents and violent clashes with Pakistan — including reports suggesting that a Rafale fighter jet may have been shot down — appear to have acted as a catalyst for India’s decision to approve the development of the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) programme.

The programme involves the development of a twin-engine, fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter aircraft, intended to meet the future operational requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Although initially launched in 2010, progress has been disappointingly slow, largely due to the prioritisation of other defence procurements for the Indian Air Force.

However, in 2024, significant progress was made, with the Indian government approving USD 1.8 billion in funding for the design and prototype development phase. An upgraded prototype model of the AMCA was also unveiled in February at the Aero India 2025 airshow.

In a major push for #AatmanirbharBharat in defence, Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has approved the Execution Model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (#AMCA) programme. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will lead the project in partnership with Indian industry.

As a nuclear power, India is acutely aware that nations such as China, Russia, and the United States already field operational fifth-generation stealth fighters, while its arch-rival Pakistan maintains close military-industrial ties with China. Beijing, in turn, is actively promoting its J-35 stealth fighter for export, with Islamabad reportedly expressing strong interest.

Accordingly, India’s Ministry of Defence had little choice but to approve the acceleration of the AMCA programme, placing the state-run Aeronautical Development Agency at the helm.

Notably, private Indian defence firms will also be invited to participate, as the government aims for the aircraft to be “Made in India”, aligning with its strategic objective of technological and industrial self-reliance, and reduced dependency on foreign suppliers.

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