In a surprising turn, not a single private sector consortium has submitted a bid to partner in India’s most ambitious fighter jet project — the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA-R). The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has now extended the Expression of Interest (EoI) deadline from August 31 to September 30, 2025.
Why This Matters
The AMCA programme is central to India’s defence modernisation drive, aiming to build a fifth-generation stealth fighter with features like:
- Advanced stealth shaping and radar-evading technology
- Supercruise capabilities
- Next-generation avionics and sensors
The government’s plan was to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) — pooling ADA’s design expertise, HAL’s production base, and private industry’s agility. But the lack of initial bids hints at concerns over the huge financial risks, long development cycle, and technological complexities.
ADA’s Next Steps
To revive interest, ADA has reiterated its guidelines, making clear that:
- Submissions must be delivered in sealed hard copy or via registered Speed Post
- Late bids (after 5:00 PM, September 30, 2025) will not be considered
Officials see this one-month extension as a critical window to bridge trust gaps and encourage Indian private firms to step up in defence aerospace manufacturing.
The Bigger Picture
India is betting big on the AMCA to reduce reliance on foreign fighters and strengthen strategic autonomy in defence technology. A successful public-private partnership could be a gamechanger for India’s aviation ecosystem, but the muted private response shows that the road ahead won’t be easy.
