Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
India's Fifth-Generation Fighter
The AMCA is India's indigenous fifth-generation stealth combat aircraft being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO, with HAL as the lead production agency. It is the centrepiece of India's long-term air combat modernisation.
- Classification: Single-seat, twin-engine, multi-role stealth fighter
- Features: Supercruise (supersonic without afterburner), internal weapons bays, AESA radar, infrared search and track (IRST) system, EW suite
- Two variants: AMCA Mk1 (non-supercruise, powered by F414 or indigenous engine for first two squadrons); AMCA Mk2 (full supercruise, powered by indigenous ~110–120 kN engine)
- Design phase: ADA completed detail design review; prototype manufacturing expected to begin in 2026–27
- First flight: Projected around 2030–31; service induction: 2035+
- Indigenous engine development: GTRE (Gas Turbine Research Establishment) is developing the Kaveri engine successor (Kaveri Mk2/GTX-35VS); this will eventually power AMCA Mk2
- Budget: Total AMCA programme cost estimated at ₹15,000 crore for development phase (Cabinet Committee on Security approved in 2024)
● Tracked since April 16, 2026 · last seen August 07, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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