India finalises AMCA stealth fighter jet design, aims for prototype rollout by 2027
August 18, 2025
In what marks a significant leap forward for India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the paper design of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has now been finalised by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Ministry of Defence.
Touted as India’s first 5th-generation stealth fighter jet, the AMCA project is rapidly evolving from concept to reality. A prototype is expected to roll out by the end of 2027, powered by US-made GE 414 engines.
Long anticipated as a game-changing asset for the Indian Air Force, the AMCA is being developed as a twin-engine, single-seat fighter capable of deep penetration, stealth operations, and high-speed agility, putting it in the same technological category as some of the world’s most advanced combat aircraft.
In an exclusive interview with India TV, AMCA Project Director Krishna Rajendra revealed several key aspects of the design and functionality, underlining the project’s fully indigenous nature.
Built through a collaborative effort involving ADA, multiple DRDO laboratories, CSIR institutions, and Indian academia, the AMCA is a flagship initiative in India’s ongoing pursuit of Aatmanirbharta – strategic self-reliance.
With government approval secured, industry partnerships underway, and a clearly defined development roadmap, here’s what we know so far about this next-generation fighter jet.
AMCA: An indigenous breakthrough in combat aircraft design
The AMCA is India’s first fully indigenous attempt at building a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, a category currently dominated by the United States, China, and Russia.
Krishna Rajendra confirmed that the aircraft’s primary stealth-oriented design is now complete, and a full-scale engineering model was unveiled at the last Aero India show as a demonstration of both design and manufacturing capability.
“This aircraft will not be noticed on enemy radar; that is the stealth feature of this aircraft,” said Rajendra. The focus on stealth goes far beyond radar-absorbent paint. It includes airframe shaping, weapons concealment, and heat signature management.
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The aircraft has been developed in close coordination with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research Institute (CSIR) facilities, and academic institutions across the country, highlighting a new era of collaboration within India’s defence research ecosystem.
India’s AMCA design is all about stealth, speed and survivability
The AMCA will be a twin-engine, single-seat fighter, designed to perform both air superiority and deep-strike missions. It features a twin-tail layout, blended fuselage, and a streamlined body to minimise radar cross-section.
It is expected to achieve a top speed of Mach 1.8, while retaining super-manoeuvrability and agility, even in contested airspace. Crucially, the aircraft will carry weapons internally, helping preserve stealth during strike missions.
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In a notable design innovation, the AMCA will support two distinct operational configurations:
- Stealth mode: All weapons are housed internally within a dedicated weapons bay, with a payload capacity of up to 1.5 tonnes, maximising stealth.
- Non-stealth mode: External hardpoints are used to carry additional weapons, allowing payloads of up to 5 tonnes, useful for missions where stealth is not the top priority.
This flexibility makes the AMCA suitable for a wide spectrum of missions from covert, radar-evading operations to full-scale combat sorties requiring heavy ordnance.
AMCA will have an AI co-pilot
One of the most advanced features being developed for the AMCA is its ‘electronic pilot’, a digital co-pilot powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Unlike traditional fighter aircraft, where a second pilot handles mission systems, the AMCA will be a single-seat aircraft, with the electronic pilot taking over the tasks usually assigned to a human wingman.
“The job of the second pilot will be done by a digital pilot,” Rajendra explained.
This AI system will support the pilot in decision-making, threat detection, route optimisation, and combat strategy, effectively acting as a virtual mission assistant.
The integration of AI is expected to enhance situational awareness, reduce pilot workload, and increase overall mission success rates.
Advanced, indigenous weapons on board
The AMCA is set to be equipped with an array of cutting-edge, homegrown technologies:
- AESA Radar (Active Electronically Scanned Array) for precise target tracking and engagement.
- Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) allows passive detection of enemy aircraft.
- Sensor fusion suite integrating radar, IRST, and EW systems for 360-degree situational awareness.
- Indigenous electronic warfare capabilities to detect, jam, and counter enemy radar and missile systems.
In terms of armament, the AMCA will be compatible with several indigenously developed weapons, such as:
- Astra BVRAAM (Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles)
- Rudram series of anti-radiation missiles
- BrahMos-NG supersonic cruise missiles
These features are aimed at ensuring complete independence from foreign suppliers in critical systems and subsystems.
It’s not only HAL that will build India’s AMCA stealth fighter
In a major policy move, the Ministry of Defence approved the AMCA Execution Model in May 2025, giving the green light for full-scale development. The ADA will now carry forward the programme through a public-private partnership model, inviting both public sector units and private defence firms to participate.
According to the ministry, the model allows firms to bid independently or as part of joint ventures or consortia, as long as they are registered Indian companies. This inclusive model aims to leverage the growing capability of India’s defence industrial base, including MSMEs, start-ups, and large aerospace players.
A formal statement described this as an “important step towards harnessing indigenous expertise, capability and capacity,” reinforcing the long-term goal of strategic autonomy in the aerospace sector.
Bringing India’s AMCA stealth fighter into service: The roadmap
The AMCA programme has a defined 10-year roadmap to bring the stealth fighter into service. The project, which began with the full-scale engineering development phase in April 2024, includes a phased approach with five prototypes planned.
- Prototype rollout: End of 2027
- Flight testing phase: Beginning 2028-2030
- Production and delivery: Starting around 2036
- Initial IAF requirement: 120 aircraft, equating to seven squadrons
Once inducted, the AMCA is expected to complement existing and future IAF assets, including the Rafale, Tejas Mk1A, Tejas Mk2, and future unmanned combat systems.
It will also provide a valuable platform for future development of sixth-generation technologies such as directed energy weapons, loyal wingman drones, and network-centric warfare capabilities.
