The government is yet to approve India’s homegrown fifth-generation fighter program, the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) that was supposed to come in the first half of this year, and after a slight delay, will likely now happen by end of Q3 of this year said informed sources close to idrw.org. ADA had put the proposal up for funding approvals along with that project cost estimated at 15000 crores for the manufacturing of the two technology demonstrators and few prototypes.
Indian Air Force (IAF) will be procuring AMCA in Two Phases and has decided to procure around 120 AMCA Stealth jets to make up around Six Squadrons. In Phase-1, 40 units making up 2 Squadrons of AMCA Mk1 with IOC Configuration, powered by American F-414 engines will be entering service around 2032 onwards. In Phase-II, 80 units of AMCA Mk2 with FOC Configuration powered by new indigenously manufactured higher 110kN thrust engines will enter service from 2035 onwards.
In 2018, ADA had received seed money for the design and research of the AMCA Program from the government to the tune of 200 cores. In Aero India 2021, the final design of the AMCA jet was showcased earlier this year that included the incorporation of Diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) air intake for better frontal stealth aspect, and now the work on wind tunnel testing of the air intake have started.
ADA is also working on the 5- (minus) TEDBF program for the development of the carrier-based fighter jet for the Indian Navy and currently two designs are been pursued by the nodal design agency in close corporation with the Indian Naval officials who have been deputed in ADA for the program. ADA is using seed money cleared for the development of the LCA-Navy Mk1 for the design and development of the TEDBF program and it is estimated that around 13000 crores have been asked by the ADA for the development of the first two prototypes of the TEDBF by 2026 that will enter production by 2030-31.