Defence Minister laid foundation stone for AMCA programme facility in Andhra Pradesh.
About Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
- AMCA is India’s indigenous 5th-generation medium-weight stealth multirole fighter jet.
- Developed by: Aeronautical Development Agency, DRDO.
- Variants: AMCA Mk1 with GE-F414 engines; Mk2 planned with indigenous engines.
- Timeline: Prototype expected by 2028-29 and induction targeted by 2034-35.
Characteristics of 5th Generation Fighter Jet
- Twin-engine: Provides higher level of air safety in case of engine failure.
- Stealth Capabilities: Minimizes radar, infrared and visual signatures to delay or prevent enemy detection and engagement.
- Super cruise: Ability to maintain supersonic flight (speeds >Mach 1) without engaging fuel-heavy afterburners, significantly increasing its operational range and efficiency.
- Others: Integrated Avionics, AI Integration to enhance pilot-aircraft interface, Resilient Networking and Communication.
Examples of Operational 5th Generation Fighter Jets: F-22 and F-35 (United States), Sukhoi Su-57 (Russia), Chengdu J-20 (China).
Strategic Importance of 5th Generation Fighter Jet AMCA
- IAF Modernisation: Fills critical capability gap post-MiG-29/Mirage phaseout, helps restore IAF's depleted squadron strength.
- Technological Sovereignty: Reduces dependency on foreign platforms, enhances long-term defence autonomy through Make in India.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat: Enhancs India's indigenous defence capabilities by fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem.
