Twin engines, medium-weight aircraft could be introduced into the Indian Air Force by 2035, when other major air forces like Russia, the US and China operate sixth-generation fighter jets. Other countries are well ahead.
Reports reveal that Russia will continue to develop sixth-generation jet fighter jets just months after the release of the 1:8-scale demo model of the early concept of the AMCA in August 2013. I’ve done it. The project, known as Mikoyan Pak DP, is currently in development.
The US has launched the Next Generation Air Control Program (NGAD) and is expected to be presenting the first sixth generation fighter jet around 2030. In September 2020, the US Air Force announced that the prototype aircraft under NGAD was the first flight, but details were categorized.
In January 2019, senior Chinese aviation industry executives announced that China has begun preliminary research into sixth generation aircraft, and is expected to be realized by 2035. On social media, months ago there were reports and images of China’s testing of flying a new tailless aircraft. Pakistan also envisions interest in China’s stealth aircraft program.
Europe isn’t that far behind either. The UK announced the development of the sixth generation fighter jet concept, the Tempest, at the 2018 Farnborough Air Show. France, Germany and Spain are reportedly working together on projects similar to some of the future combat aviation systems programmes.
This means that when the fifth generation of fighters who grew up in India’s home country take their wings, the country is still a generation behind other major air forces. This is because production of Tejas, a fourth-generation fighter aircraft designed by DRDO, faces headwinds at the Hindustan Aeronauts Limited (HAL), which has led to a very slow pace of guidance, and Air Chief, Air Chief Marshal Aman Preet Singhh reportedly commented during his visit to Aero India, “At this point, I’m not confident in HAL, but this was a very wrong thing.”
The development of the AMCA, running by the Aviation Development Agency (ADA), follows the light fighter project, which culminated in Tejas’ very late production. In March 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared the AMCA prototype development project at a cost of Rs 15,000.
Evolving in the first part of the 21st century, the fifth generation fighter jets, today’s most advanced combat aviation platform, are characterized by stealth capabilities, agile aircraft, radical design and super cruise performance. A sustained period of sound without relying on high-level automation with fuel-intensive afterburners, artificial intelligence attributes, advanced avionics and highly integrated computer systems capable of network-centered operation.
The first operational fifth generation fighter was the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, who served with the US Air Force in December 2005. The fourth generation of Indigenous Tejas was still in the prototype stage, followed by the Lockheed Martin F-35. Lightning II in July 2015. China’s Chengdu J-20 was led in March 2017. This comes after the Russian Sukhoi SU-57 entered service in December 2020 after the first Tejas squadron was in operation.
Over 1,000 F-35s are manufactured and exported to several other countries. China, which has been continuing long-term standoffs along the actual control line since 2020, is estimated to have already led around 300 J-20s, and is also found in the sky belt in Tibet. It’s been done.
In contrast, the IAF only has two operational squadrons of older generation Tejas. 73 More aircraft have ordered, and 97 more have been approved for procurement.
Using AMCA’s forecast specifications, it is the lightest aircraft of five generations of aircraft, with 13,290 kg on the F-35 and 17,000 kg on the J-20 and 18,500, while its empty weight weighs about 12,000 kg is. Su57 kg. It is slightly larger than US aircraft, but smaller than the counterparts in China and Russia.
While ADA is a major agent in the development of AMCAs, many private and public sector entities are also associated with long, complex technical journeys. Initially, five prototypes were built by industry partners, with the first flight expected for 2028, originally scheduled for 2017.
The IAF will source at least 125 AMCAs and equip them with seven squadrons. These will eventually replace the Multi-Roll Russian Origin SU-30 MKI, which now forms the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet. The IAF operates 260 SU-30s with 13 squadrons, with 12 more aircraft from these aircraft ordering.
