HAL AMCA: What is India's fifth-generation fighter jet, and how does it compare with F-35, Su-57, J-20?
AMCA's capabilities
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What Makes AMCA a Fifth-Generation Jet?
Stealth Technology : Internal weapons bay and low radar cross-section help reduce detectability.
: Internal weapons bay and low radar cross-section help reduce detectability. AI-Enabled Systems : An Electronic Pilot uses Artificial Intelligence for real-time decision-making support.
: An Electronic Pilot uses Artificial Intelligence for real-time decision-making support. Sensor Fusion : The cockpit integrates inputs from multiple onboard sensors for unified situational awareness.
: The cockpit integrates inputs from multiple onboard sensors for unified situational awareness. Netcentric Warfare : Secure and real-time data links allow the AMCA to operate seamlessly with other manned and unmanned platforms.
: Secure and real-time data links allow the AMCA to operate seamlessly with other manned and unmanned platforms. Supercruise Capability : Enables sustained supersonic speeds without afterburners, reducing fuel usage and thermal visibility.
: Enables sustained supersonic speeds without afterburners, reducing fuel usage and thermal visibility. Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM): Monitors structural and system health to enable predictive maintenance and reduce downtime.
A strategic leap amid regional tensions
How does AMCA compare to F-35, Su-57 and J-20?
F-35 Lightning II (USA): Developed by Lockheed Martin, this jet is considered the most widely deployed fifth-gen fighter. It features advanced stealth, an internal fuel capacity of 18,498 pounds, and a payload of 18,000 pounds. It is powered by a 43,000 lb thrust engine and features the Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) for secure battlefield communication.
Sukhoi Su-57 (Russia): Russia's stealth jet can reach Mach 1.8 and carry up to 7.4 tonnes of munitions. With a combat range of 1,864 miles and operating altitude of over 54,000 feet, the Su-57 is pitched as a multi-role platform with Russia looking to export it to India and the UAE.
Chengdu J-20 (China): China's stealth fighter is already in service and is often claimed to rival US platforms. It is equipped with long-range missiles and radar-evading technologies.
A decade ahead: What's next for AMCA?
Why AMCA matters for India's Defence future
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India has cleared its ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft ( AMCA ) programme, a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet project that aims to elevate the Indian Air Force (IAF) into the elite club of next-gen aerial combat nations. The decision was taken by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, marking a major leap in India's indigenous defence capabilities.The AMCA project—led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)—is designed to produce medium-weight, deep-penetration, stealth aircraft that will operate alongside the existing Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. Together, they will form the core of India's aerial strike power in the coming decades.'In a significant push towards enhancing India's indigenous defence capabilities and fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model,' the Ministry of Defence said.The AMCA is more than just a jet. It's India's answer to stealth-heavy, fifth-generation warfare. The twin-engine, 25-tonne aircraft will feature cutting-edge stealth, AI-assisted electronic piloting, and internal weapons bays designed for long-range air-to-air missiles and precision-guided bombs.It also comes with Netcentric Warfare Systems, advanced avionics, and Integrated Vehicle Health Management for predictive maintenance. These features enable seamless coordination with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in real-time combat scenarios.An India Today report confirms the aircraft's internal fuel tank will hold up to 6.5 tonnes, giving it extended operational range. The Indian Express reports the internal weapons bay will carry a payload of up to 1,500 kg.The AMCA's projected cost currently stands at ₹15,000 crore, with full-scale engineering development for five prototypes approved in March 2024.The AMCA is a 25-tonne twin-engine stealth multi-role fighter, featuring cutting-edge stealth design, sensor fusion, and advanced avionics. It is engineered for both deep penetration strike missions and air dominance roles.It includes:The jet can carry up to four long-range air-to-air missiles and several precision-guided munitions internally, with a total payload of 1,500 kg.The timing of the announcement is no coincidence. It comes as China rapidly advances its military technology and deepens its defence relationship with Pakistan. According to a recent US intelligence report, 'Pakistan primarily is a recipient of China's economic and military largesse, and Pakistani forces conduct multiple combined military exercises every year with China's PLA, including a new air exercise completed in November 2024.'The same report noted that over 80% of Pakistan's arms imports come from China, with 'foreign materials and technology supporting Pakistan's WMD programmes very likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China.' These materials are sometimes transshipped through third countries like Hong Kong and the UAE.Further compounding the situation are recent terrorist attacks targeting Chinese workers in Pakistan. Seven Chinese nationals were killed in 2024, straining relations between the two countries.Against this backdrop, India's push for self-reliance in aerospace and its investment in fifth-generation capabilities mark a decisive response.India's AMCA will join an elite list of fifth-generation fighter jets already in operation. These include:Compared to these, AMCA's design focuses on stealth, AI integration, and seamless UAV coordination. Though India is late to the fifth-generation game, its aircraft is expected to match, if not exceed, certain capabilities of its rivals through indigenous innovation and selective foreign collaboration.The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has committed to delivering the first operational AMCA by 2035.'This journey began only in 2024, when the Cabinet Committee on Security sanctioned the project. It will take ten years, and we have committed to delivering the platform by 2035,' DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat had said earlier.To develop the jet's complex engine, India is expected to partner with a foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM), ensuring the platform meets both domestic and export potential.Meanwhile, the IAF is also moving ahead with its Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) procurement programme. A Request for Information (RFI) was issued in April 2019 for 114 fighter aircraft, at an estimated cost of USD 18 billion—making it one of the largest military acquisitions in recent history.For India, the AMCA is not just about matching China or Pakistan. It's about autonomy.India's successful development of the Tejas LCA has already laid the groundwork. Now, with the AMCA, India joins the elite club of nations with fifth-generation fighter capabilities—alongside the US, Russia, and China.Alongside other indigenous programmes such as VSHORAD, MPATGM and LCA Mk II, the AMCA signals a transformative decade ahead for India's defence industry. With the global strategic landscape rapidly shifting, the ability to control the skies is no longer optional—it's existential.
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