The North News
New Delhi, May 27
In a major move to boost India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence has approved a new industry-driven model to develop the country’s next-generation stealth fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave the green light to the AMCA Programme Execution Model, under which the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will lead the initiative in partnership with Indian industry.
In a departure from past government-led projects, the new framework allows private and public sector companies to compete on equal footing, either independently or through joint ventures and consortia. All bidders must be Indian firms, fully compliant with national laws and regulations.
Officials described the move as a pivotal step in India’s march towards Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the aerospace sector. The AMCA is envisioned as a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter, capable of high-speed interception, ground attack, and electronic warfare.
ADA is expected to issue an Expression of Interest (EoI) in the coming days, inviting proposals for the development phase of the prototype.
The programme is being closely watched by defence analysts, as it could signal a shift in India’s defence production strategy—prioritising local technological innovation while reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
