In a bold move to enhance India’s defense capabilities, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. This initiative aims to equip the Indian Air Force and Navy with state-of-the-art indigenous technology, particularly amid escalating global security concerns.
The AMCA project, originally conceptualized back in 2010, has experienced various delays but is now gaining traction under a newly approved execution model from the Ministry of Defence. According to the project timeline, a pre-bid meeting is set for July 4, 2025, with bids scheduled to open on August 18, 2025. This revised timeline reflects a strategic pivot towards leveraging private sector expertise, diverging from the traditional reliance on public sector heavyweights like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Significantly, only Indian companies that are owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens and possess the necessary technical capabilities are eligible to participate in the bidding process. Applicants may submit bids as individual companies, joint ventures, or consortia, provided they comply with Indian laws and regulations. The process aims to favor established Indian firms with proven experience in aerospace and defense, able to absorb the AMCA design and showcase competence in development, engineering, manufacturing, integration, testing, quality assurance, and customer support.
Moreover, the selected entity must be equipped to set up a dedicated manufacturing facility for series production. It is important to note that the development contract will encompass prototyping, flight testing, and certification, and is strictly limited to an eight-year frame from the effective date. The ADA has made it clear that no requests for extensions or delayed submissions will be accepted, and incomplete or inadequately detailed proposals will be dismissed without further explanation. Compliance with the EoI does not guarantee shortlisting.
The AMCA is envisioned as a twin-engine, all-weather, multirole stealth fighter, engineered with advanced stealth features and combat capabilities. It is being developed as India’s domestic answer to global fighter platforms like the F-35. A notable aspect of the project includes a strategic collaboration with France’s Safran for the development of a high-thrust engine.
A high-level committee, chaired by the Defence Secretary and including representatives from the ADA and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is tasked with overseeing the roadmap from design to deployment. A detailed report was prepared in April 2025 to ensure adherence to timelines and budget constraints. The cost of each prototype is estimated at ₹1,000 crore, with any cost overruns required to be reported directly to the Cabinet Committee on Security, highlighting the project’s strategic importance.
The AMCA initiative represents a transformative moment for India’s defense sector, aiming to blend domestic innovation with selective global partnerships, thereby enhancing national security and reinforcing technological sovereignty.
