Source : IgMp Bureau
India’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is making strides toward its inaugural flight. In a recent interview with The New Indian Express, Krishna Rajendra, the Project Director of the AMCA program, disclosed the program’s ambitious yet attainable timeline.
The AMCA is scheduled to take its first flight in September 2028, a significant milestone for India’s aerospace aspirations. This ambitious goal is contingent upon a successful four-and-a-half-year development period. The approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) marks a crucial advancement in the AMCA project, enabling key activities such as metal cutting, assembly line establishment, and jig creation to commence. HAL’s spokesperson emphasized, “Other activities such as setting up the jigs and assembly line will also start. We will also start the process of setting up the supply chain for the program.”
The impending commencement of metal cutting for AMCA prototypes signifies a major milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defense aviation. The AMCA, envisioned as a cutting-edge combat aircraft, aims to enhance India’s aerial defense capabilities and reinforce its position as a prominent player in advanced military technologies.
Highlighting India’s growing prowess in aerospace technology, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) collaborated with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to deliver IM7 carbon composite-based flaperons for the AMCA project last year. This collaboration underscores India’s commitment to leveraging state-of-the-art materials and technologies in its defense initiatives.
HAL’s pivotal role in advancing the AMCA project was highlighted in 2022 when R. Madhavan, the Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, inaugurated the ‘Metal Cutting for Titanium Bulkhead of AMCA aircraft’ at the Aircraft Manufacturing Division in Nashik on July 13. The event, attended by key stakeholders including AK Ghosh, Project Director (AMCA) at ADA, and senior officials from the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) and ADA, marked a significant milestone in the development of AMCA’s technology demonstrator.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will lead the development of five AMCA prototypes. These aircraft will undergo rigorous flight testing to evaluate onboard avionics, sensors, and overall performance.
Prior to production clearance, ADA and HAL will carefully select and integrate an initial set of weapons onto the AMCA. This process, along with extensive testing, could delay the production clearance date to around 2034-35.
ADA anticipates unveiling the first AMCA prototype by the end of 2027. To expedite the development process, a dedicated Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) will also be constructed. This ground-based platform will undergo various trials, simulating critical flight scenarios and functionalities.
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