The Indian government has approved the execution model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, marking a pivotal move towards strengthening the nation’s indigenous defence capabilities. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the green light for the project, which is being led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Ministry of Defence and will involve close collaboration with private industry stakeholders.
The AMCA is a fifth-generation stealth multirole combat aircraft designed to serve both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Featuring a single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather design, the aircraft aims to elevate India’s aerial combat capabilities with cutting-edge technology. The programme, previously called the Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA) initiative, has now advanced to the prototype development phase after completing feasibility, preliminary, and detailed design stages.
An official statement from the Defence Ministry highlighted the significance of the approval, stating that the AMCA programme will harness domestic expertise and manufacturing capacity to build a prototype that forms the foundation of India’s self-reliant aerospace ambitions. “This is a major milestone towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the aerospace sector,” the statement said, aligning the project with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision of self-sufficiency launched in 2020.
The decision follows a ₹15,000 crore sanction by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 2024 for the aircraft’s development. Additionally, the Defence Ministry established a panel in early 2025 to increase private sector participation, signaling a shift towards a more inclusive production framework. A high-level committee is also shaping a clear strategy and business model to expedite the programme’s progress.
The AMCA project has attracted international interest, with India entering into collaborative talks with France and Rolls-Royce Holdings. In July 2023, India and France agreed to jointly develop a combat aircraft engine for the AMCA Mark-2 variant under the Horizon 2047 strategic partnership. Recent discussions in 2025 have advanced this cooperation further, building on earlier work from the indigenous Kaveri engine programme.
The development of the AMCA is seen as critical to reducing India’s reliance on foreign defence imports, a core objective of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Since the programme’s inception during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative has prioritized defence manufacturing, including import bans on 101 military items announced by Rajnath Singh in August 2020 to boost domestic production.
The recent unveiling of the AMCA model at a major aerospace exhibition has generated significant interest, highlighting India’s progress in advanced fighter jet technology. With the programme now firmly underway under a structured execution plan, experts expect the AMCA to significantly enhance India’s defence preparedness and help establish the country as a key player in the global aerospace industry. The coming years will be crucial as ADA and its industry partners work towards realizing this ambitious vision of a self-reliant India in defence and aerospace.
