While India continues to develop its 5th Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), China made headlines by flying its 6th generation fighter jet. This stark contrast in development schedules raises serious concerns about India’s position in the global defense competition. X (formerly Twitter) has posted images of China’s 6th generation fighter jets flying.
While India remains involved in the AMCA development process, China is already developing a sixth-generation fighter jet, proving that India is lagging behind in the race for air superiority.
China’s leap into the 6th generation
In November 2024, China unveiled the 6th generation fighter jet AVIC Baidi Type-B at the Zhuhai Air Show, and footage of the fighter jet in flight was soon released. The aircraft is touted as a significant advance, with features such as a tailless design and diamond-shaped wings similar to renderings of American and Western models. Much of the fighter’s capabilities remain secret, although speculation points to enhanced stealth capabilities and the possibility of operations in space, although skepticism remains about the latter.
China’s rapid progress highlights the country’s increasing technological capabilities in defense. The Baidi Type-B is just the latest in a series of advancements following its debut in 2011 and the introduction of the fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon in 2017.
By comparison, the world’s first fifth-generation fighter, the US F-22 Raptor, took more than a decade to reach full operational status. China’s stealth capabilities, particularly the J-20, have been criticized, but the leap to a sixth-generation fighter is a clear sign that the country is determined to stay ahead of the curve.
India’s struggle to develop AMCA
Meanwhile, India is still in the early stages of developing its own fifth-generation AMCA fighter jet. Despite receiving approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), AMCA is far from reality. The program, which is being led by the Aviation Development Authority (ADA) in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has been plagued by delays. AMCA’s first flight is currently scheduled for 2026, with the aircraft likely to enter service around the early 2030s, but these schedules remain uncertain.
AMCA is seen as a solution to India’s aging fleet and to counter increasingly advanced adversaries like China. However, progress has been slow, and technical challenges, particularly with respect to engines, remain major obstacles. The AMCA is expected to use the GE-414 engine, which will be shared with the Tejas Mk2 fighter, but the final engine choice for the production version may be different, further complicating the schedule.
Additionally, India’s defense budget is undercutting its demand for cutting-edge technology, as India still relies heavily on older platforms such as the Su-30MKI and MiG-29, and at the same time seeks to acquire new platforms such as the French Rafale. I’m having a hard time fulfilling it. The lack of a stable and reliable fighter jet production pipeline leaves India vulnerable to delays in major defense programs.
Widening inequality: India’s strategic vulnerability
India finds itself in a precarious position as China advances its sixth-generation fighter program. Although AMCA is still in the prototype stage and unlikely to be introduced until the next decade, China is already fielding far more advanced fighter jets with technology that is likely to surpass India’s current arsenal. Preparations are underway.
This situation highlights a major strategic vulnerability. India, which shares a tense border with China, needs to urgently address this growing military power gap. The future of air combat is already taking shape, with countries like China and the United States turning their attention to sixth-generation fighters that will redefine the nature of air combat. By the time AMCA enters service, it may already be outdated compared to the capabilities of China’s sixth-generation fighter jets, putting India at a severe disadvantage in the event of a conflict.
The need to accelerate development
The AMCA program’s long schedule and technical delays are understandable given the scale of such an ambitious project, but they cannot be ignored. “India cannot afford to wait decades to catch up with China, especially as the regional security environment becomes increasingly volatile,” opined a former IAF official.
“One solution is perhaps by outsourcing some of the technology or partnering with foreign countries that already have the expertise needed to build advanced fighter jets,” said the official, who requested anonymity. , could accelerate the development of AMCA.” Cooperation with countries such as the United States, Russia, and even European countries could provide valuable access to technology that would significantly shorten development timelines. India should also consider the possibility of strengthening its fleet with additional Rafales and other modern platforms to fill the gap until AMCA becomes operational. ”
Additionally, “The Indian Air Force (IAF) is acquiring other advanced systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones to complement its manned fighter fleet and provide a more balanced defense capability in the future.” “Integrating such a system into the Indian Air Force would make it more competitive in the absence of a sixth-generation fighter,” he said.
