The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced that the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet under development, is expected to be ready by 2035. The manufacturing timeline for the platform and its associated engine development was confirmed by DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat.
The AMCA project, sanctioned in 2024 by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), marks a significant step in India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities. According to Kamat, “If you look at any programme anywhere in the world, it takes 10 to 15 years to develop a new platform. So we have started this journey only in 2024, when the CCS sanctioned the project. So it will take ten years and we have committed to deliver the platform by 2035.”
DRDO is also seeking collaboration with foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to support the development of the AMCA's engine. The objective is to mitigate technological and developmental risks associated with manufacturing high-performance aero engines.
“We want to start an AERO engine programme and we want to collaborate with a foreign OEM to cut down the risks of development,” Kamat said.
Discussing the technical challenges, he added, “AERO engine technology is a very complex technology, however we have learnt a lot from Kaveri. Kaveri was a fourth generation engine and the current engine technology has moved to sixth generation, so we want to work with foreign OEM to reduce the risks as well as cut down the time for development. Hopefully, we will have some good news on this in the next few months.”
In addition to the AMCA programme, DRDO recently tested a 30-kilowatt Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), designated Mk-II(A), at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool. The DEW system is designed to disable aerial threats such as drones, missiles, and surveillance equipment.
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