AMCA: India’s Own Stealth Fighter Jet Takes a Big Step Forward

May 25, 2026

Overview

India’s own fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is moving forward. The Defence Ministry will ask for manufacturing bids by June 2026. Three private industry groups are in the race. The first prototype will roll out in late 2026 or early 2027.

A Big Dream for Indian Skies

India has been buying fighter jets from other countries for many years. But now, India wants to build its own. That dream is called the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, or AMCA. This is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. “Stealth” means the aircraft is very hard for enemy radars to see. It is a multirole aircraft, which means it can do many different jobs. It can fight other planes, drop bombs on ground targets, and do surveillance. The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy both want this aircraft. In this article, we will learn everything about the AMCA programme, who is building it, when it will fly, and why it matters for India.

What is the AMCA Programme?

AMCA stands for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. It is India’s first indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme. Fifth-generation fighters are the most advanced jets in the world. They have stealth, advanced sensors, and the ability to share information with other planes and ground stations. Only a few countries like the United States, Russia, and China have built such aircraft. India wants to join that exclusive club. The AMCA will replace older jets like the Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29 in the Indian Air Force. The Navy also wants a version that can take off from aircraft carriers.

Who is Designing and Developing the AMCA?

The AMCA is designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The ADA works under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). DRDO is India’s top defence research body. The full-scale engineering development phase began in April 2024. This means engineers started working on detailed designs, systems, and testing. In March 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gave its approval for the prototype development phase. The CCS also sanctioned about ₹15,000 crore for the project. That is a lot of money. It shows that the Indian government is very serious about this aircraft.

Who Will Manufacture the AMCA?

Making a fighter jet is not easy. Only the best companies can do it. The Ministry of Defence has pre-selected three private sector-led industrial groups for the manufacturing contract. They are:

Tata Advanced Systems Limited – This company will bid independently.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) consortium – These two companies will bid together.
A consortium led by Bharat Forge – This group also includes BEML and Data Patterns.

There is a surprising name missing from this list. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is India’s public sector defence company. HAL has built many aircraft for India, like the Tejas and the Sukhoi-30MKI. But for the AMCA prototype development phase, HAL was excluded from the shortlist in February 2026. The government wants private industry to take the lead this time. This is a big change in India’s defence manufacturing policy.