HAL AMCA: Difference between revisions

  |first flight = 2025(expected)<ref name="Kumar">{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=KP Sanjeev|date=2020-10-24|title=When Can Indian Air Force Deploy First ‘Desi’ 5th Gen Fighter Jet?|url=https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/indian-air-force-first-desi-5th-generation-fighter-jet-hal-drdo-amca|access-date=2021-02-03|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=India plans to roll out fifth-generation fighters by 2024|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/feb/05/india-plans-to-roll-out-fifth-generation-fightersby-2024-2259979.html|publisher=THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS|access-date=5 February 2021}}</ref>

The '''Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft''' ('''AMCA''') is an Indian programme to develop a [[fifth-generation fighter]] aircraft for the [[Indian Air Force]] and the [[Indian Navy]].<ref name="Kumar">{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=KP Sanjeev|date=2020-10-24|title=When Can Indian Air Force Deploy First ‘Desi’ 5th Gen Fighter Jet?|url=https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/indian-air-force-first-desi-5th-generation-fighter-jet-hal-drdo-amca|access-date=2021-02-03|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref> The design of the aircraft is carried out by [[Aeronautical Development Agency]] (ADA), an aircraft design and development agency constituted under [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO).<ref>{{cite news|title=Defence Research and Development Organisation|url=http://idrw.org/the-first-flight-of-amca-in-2025-ada-chief/}}</ref> It is expected to be produced by a public-private joint venture between the DRDO, [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] (HAL), and an Indian private company.<ref>{{cite news|title=A point for HAL Nashik to ponder: What after Sukhoi-30MKI fighters?|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/a-point-for-hal-nashik-to-ponder-what-after-sukhoi-30mki-fighters-121042901623_1.html|publisher=Business Standard|access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref> The programme has an aim to start production by 2028.<ref name="Kumar">{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=KP Sanjeev|date=2020-10-24|title=When Can Indian Air Force Deploy First ‘Desi’ 5th Gen Fighter Jet?|url=https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/indian-air-force-first-desi-5th-generation-fighter-jet-hal-drdo-amca|access-date=2021-02-03|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref>

AMCA will be a single-seat, [[Twinjet|twin-engine]], [[Stealth aircraft|stealth]] all-weather [[Multirole combat aircraft#Swing-role|Swing-role fighter]] aircraft, expected to have “[[Sixth-generation jet fighter|sixth generation]] characteristics”.<ref name="ada.gov.in">{{cite web|title=ADA-Advanced Medium Fighter Aircraft|url=https://www.ada.gov.in/adawebsitedev.html}}</ref><ref name="ET Manu Pubby October 2020">{{Cite news|last=Pubby|first=Manu|title=India likely to produce next generation fighter jets in a private sector-led joint venture|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-likely-to-produce-next-generation-fighter-jets-in-a-pvt-sector-led-jv/articleshow/78439692.cms|access-date=2020-10-02}}</ref> The AMCA which is intended to perform a multitude of missions including [[Air supremacy|air superiority]], [[Air interdiction|ground-strike]], [[Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses]] (SEAD) and [[electronic warfare]] (EW) missions would be a potent replacement for the [[Sukhoi Su-30MKI]] air superiority fighter, which forms the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet.<ref name="ada.gov.in"/><ref>{{cite news|title=India Looks to Indigenous Fighters|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-09-12/india-looks-indigenous-fighters|publisher=AINonline|access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref> The AMCA design is optimised for low radar cross section and [[supercruise]] capability.<ref name="bangaloremirror1">{{cite news|title=Scientists face uphill task developing India’s first 5th generation fighter|url=http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/scientists-face-uphill-task-developing-indias-first-5th-generation-fighter/articleshow/46204361.cms|work=Bangalore Mirror|agency=Bangalore Mirror Bureau|date=12 February 2015}}</ref> Feasibility study on AMCA and the preliminary design stage have been completed, and the project entered the detailed design phase in February 2019.<ref name ="TOIFEB2019">{{Cite news|title = Aero India 2019: HAL-developed Advanced Medium {{sic|nolink=y|Aicraft}} will be IAF’s 1st option for fifth-gen fighter|url = https://m.timesofindia.com/city/bengaluru/hal-developed-advanced-medium-aicraft-will-be-iafs-1st-option-for-fifth-gen-fighter/articleshow/68118701.cms|date = February 23, 2019|newspaper = [[Times of India]]}}</ref> A CAD model of the aircraft was shown at Aero India 2019. The first flight is expected to be by 2025 and serial production might begin by 2030.<ref>{{cite news|title=India plans to roll out fifth-generation fighters by 2024|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/feb/05/india-plans-to-roll-out-fifth-generation-fightersby-2024-2259979.html|publisher=THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS|access-date= 5 February 2021}}</ref> The AMCA is currently the only fifth generation fighter under development in India, expected to get [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]  approval in second quarter of 2021.<ref>{{cite news|title=Govt to soon give nod for indigenous stealth fighters|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-to-soon-give-nod-for-indigenous-stealth-fighters-101615917481953.html |publisher=Hindustan Times |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref> The aircraft, along with its naval variant, is intended to provide the bulk of the manned tactical airpower of the [[Indian Air Force]] and the [[Indian Navy]] over the coming decades. AMCA would be the third [[Supersonic aircraft|supersonic]] jet of Indian origin after the [[HAL HF-24 Marut|HAL Marut]] and [[HAL Tejas]].

The [[Specification (technical standard)|Project Definition]] and Preliminary Design phase of AMCA began in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=A note on India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project|url=https://www.news18.com/blogs/india/saurav-jha/a-note-on-indias-advanced-medium-combat-aircraft-amca-project-10879-748657.html|website=News 18|date=27 December 2014}}</ref> From November 2013 to December 2014, 9 configurations of AMCA, starting from 3B-01 to 3B-09, were studied using [[Computer-aided design|CAD]], low speed - high speed wind tunnel testing and radar cross section (RCS) testing and eventually by the end of 2014, configuration 3B-09 was chosen.<ref>{{cite report|title=30th Audit report ADA|url=http://164.100.47.191/paperlaidfiles/DEFENCE/ADA-30th%20AR_Eng.pdf}}</ref> In 2015, basic design configuration of AMCA was finalized and a detailed AMCA programme report was submitted to the IAF, which after review gave concurrence to the programme.<ref>{{cite web|title=Development of indigenous AMCA on track|url=http://m.thehindu.com/news/national/development-of-indigenous-amca-on-track/article6913681.ece|publisher=The Hindu|date=20 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=31st ADA Audit Report|url=https://www.ada.gov.in/images/Annual%20Report%202015-16.pdf}}</ref> The AMCA design after considerable refinements, has been accepted by IAF in 2016.<ref>{{cite report|title=31st ADA Audit Report|url=https://www.ada.gov.in/images/Annual%20Report%202015-16.pdf}}</ref> The Project definition phase was completed by 2017.<ref>{{cite report|title=31st ADA Audit Report|url=https://www.ada.gov.in/images/Annual%20Report%202015-16.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=AMCA, India's first stealth fighter, likely to be airborne before 2025|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2019/02/19/india-stealth-fighter-project-amca.html|publisher=onmanorama|date=19 February 2019}}</ref> On 4 April 2018, Indian Defence Minister [[Nirmala Sitharaman]] in a written reply to the [[Lok Sabha]] confirmed that the feasibility study for the AMCA programme has been completed and the programme would be completed in two phases viz, technology demonstration phase and full scale engineering development phase.<ref>{{cite news|title=After Tejas, defence industry looks to ‘Make In India’ advanced medium combat aircraft|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/after-tejas-defence-industry-looks-to-make-in-india-advanced-medium-combat-aircraft/1121720/|publisher=Finance Express|date=4 April 2018}}</ref> The ''Detailed Design Phase'' of AMCA has commenced in 2018, as part of the phase, a full scale model of AMCA will be developed for testing stealth features.<ref name = "TOIFEB2019"/><ref name = "HTAUG2019">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indigenous-light-combat-aircraft-targeted-by-2022/story-MGy2MXsapn8H6IDjUNt12H.html|title=Indigenous light combat aircraft targeted by 2022|date=2019-08-23|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-08-23}}</ref> The ADA is expecting to get government approval for the AMCA programme by the second quarter of 2021.<ref name="Hindustan Times">{{cite news|title=Govt to soon give nod for indigenous stealth fighters|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-to-soon-give-nod-for-indigenous-stealth-fighters-101615917481953.html|publisher=Hindustan Times|date=17 March 2021}}</ref> Rs. 15,000 crore will be sanctioned for the program soon as per the latest reports.<ref name="Hindustan Times"/><ref>{{cite web|title=AMCA and TEDBF: India's Two most fighter jet program set to go official|url=https://idrw.org/amca-and-tedbf-indias-two-most-fighter-jet-program-set-to-go-official/|publisher=INDIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH WING|date=26 March 2021}}</ref> The first prototype of AMCA is expected to be rolled out by 2024.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tejas done, focus on three other fighter jets: two for IAF, one Navy|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aero-india-2021-tejas-done-focus-on-three-other-fighter-jets-two-for-iaf-one-navy-7175125/|publisher=The Indian EXPRESS|access-date=5 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tejas-mark-ii-to-have-ability-to-conduct-balakot-like-ops/story-kMUDWj7o7GkrK2WTsAsGEM.html|title=Tejas Mark II to have ability to conduct Balakot-like operations|date=2020-03-19|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref>  

The current plan is to procure 6 squadrons of AMCA, first two squadrons in Mark 1, equipped with an imported engine and the remaining four squadrons in Mark 2, equipped with an uprated indigenous engine.<ref name = "TOIOCT2019">{{Cite news|title = Defence ministry to seek Cabinet nod for prototype of desi stealth jet|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/defence-ministry-to-seek-cabinet-nod-for-prototype-of-desi-stealth-jet/articleshow/71798166.cms|date = October 29, 2019|access-date = October 29, 2019|newspaper = [[Times of India]]}}</ref> The Mark 2 of AMCA would also incorporate sixth generation features and technologies to stay relevant in the coming decades.<ref name="Hindustan Times"/>

The AMCA is a twin-engine, stealth supersonic swing-role fighter designed for the IAF.<ref name="ada.gov.in"/> At present, the AMCA is planned as a fifth generaton fighter, but there is a strong hint that AMCA would integrate emerging, best of breed sixth generation technologies over time to stay in the loop.<ref>{{cite news|title=India’s 5th-Gen Fighter Jet ‘AMCA’ Will Have 6th-Gen Technology – Indian Air Force|url=https://eurasiantimes.com/indias-5th-gen-fighter-jet-amca-will-have-6th-gen-technology-indian-air-force/|website=Eurasian Times|access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> The AMCA would be the first fifth generaton fighter to enter service with the Indian Air Force.<ref>{{cite news|title=India Pulls out of Joint Stealth Fighter Project With Russia|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/india-pulls-out-of-joint-stealth-fighter-project-with-russia/|publisher=The Diplomat|date=13 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=India plans to roll out fifth-generation fighters by 2024|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/feb/05/india-plans-to-roll-out-fifth-generation-fightersby-2024-2259979.html|publisher=New Indian Express|date=5 February 2021}}</ref>  

The AMCA is expected to have distributed passive sensors with Artificial intelligence (AI) assisted multi-sensor data fusion to increase situational awareness and to work in tandem with the advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite onboard AMCA.<ref>{{cite news|title=Air Chief Bhadauria’s focus on homegrown AMCA shows IAF learnt nothing from Tejas failure|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/air-chief-rakesh-bhadauria-indigenous-amca-iaf-lca-tejas-aircraft/303718/|publisher=The Print|date=11 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="EurAsian Times">{{cite news|title=HAL AMCA: Why India Needs Its Own Lockheed-Martin To Develop 5th-Gen, Stealth Fighter Aircraft?|url=https://eurasiantimes.com/hal-amca-why-india-needs-its-own-lockheed-martin-to-develop-5th-gen-stealth-fighter-aircraft/|publisher=EurAsian Times|date=12 April 2021}}</ref> The AMCA has a distributed processing system employing fast processors and smart subsystems.<ref>{{cite news |last=Karnozov |first=Vladimir |title=Indian 'Home-Grown' AMCA, An Alternative To FGFA |url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/paris-air-show/2013-06-13/indian-home-grown-amca-alternative-fgfa |access-date=5 December 2013 |newspaper=AIN Online |date=13 June 2013}}</ref> The AMCA will also have an integrated vehicle health monitoring system which works on sensor fusion.<ref name="The Week">{{cite news|title=Aero India: Indigenous stealth fighter to initially use US engines|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/02/20/aero-india-indigenous-stealth-fighter-engine.html|publisher=The Week|date=20 February 2019}}</ref>

The AMCA will have a glass cockpit equipped with a wide panoramic touchscreen display for enhanced [[Human–computer interaction|man-machine interaction]], a multi function display (MFD) placed in portrait orientation and a wide-angle holographic [[head-up display]] HUD. The AMCA will have [[HOTAS|hands-on throttle-and-stick]] (HOTAS) arrangement with right hand on stick and left hand on throttle settings to ease the pilot workload.<ref name="EurAsian Times"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Aero India 2021: Futuristic Cockpit Simulator a big draw at airshow|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/business/technology/aero-india-2021-futuristic-cockpit-simulator-a-big-draw-at-airshow-947611.html|publisher=Deccan Herald|date=5 February 2021}}</ref>

The AMCA is to be powered by two [[Turbofan#Afterburning turbofan|afterburning turbofan]] engines mounted side-by-side in the fuselage, fed by [[Diverterless supersonic inlet]]s (DSI). The initial plan was to equip an uprated [[GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri|Kaveri engine]] developed for Tejas, but Kaveri engine programme was shelved due to suboptimal performance.<ref>{{cite news|title=OneIndia Exclusive: DRDO to abandon indigenous fighter jet engine Kaveri project|url=https://www.oneindia.com/bengaluru/oneindia-exclusive-drdo-to-abandon-kaveri-project-gtre-gets-revival-package-1565505.html|publisher=One India|date=11 January 2015}}</ref> The initial batch of AMCA would be powered by [[General Electric F414|GE F414]] afterburning turbofan engines procured off the shelf while, later batch of AMCA would be powered by either indigenous or joint venture (JV) engine of 110&nbsp;kN thrust.<ref name="The Week"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Tejas done, focus on three other fighter jets: two for IAF, one Navy|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aero-india-2021-tejas-done-focus-on-three-other-fighter-jets-two-for-iaf-one-navy-7175125/|publisher=The Indian Express|date=5 February 2021}}</ref> In 2015, ADA held a series of discussions with foreign engine manufacturers exploring the possibility of joint venture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sps-aviation.com/exclusive/?id=323&h=Russia-to-partner-in-AMCA-Technologies|title= Russia to partner in AMCA Technologies|author=SP's-Aviation|work=sps-aviation.com|date=7 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="hindu-20feb15">{{cite news|last1=Peri|first1=Dinakar|title=Development of indigenous AMCA on track|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/development-of-indigenous-amca-on-track/article6913681.ece|work=The Hindu|date=20 February 2015}}</ref> As of 2021, DRDO and [[Rolls-Royce Holdings|Rolls Royce]] are developing a new 110&nbsp;kN thrust class engine. The deal is expected to be signed soon.<ref>{{cite news|title=Detailed Report: DRDO Rolls Royce JV for 110 kn her engine soon: Rolls Royce India|url=https://idrw.org/detail-report-drdo-rolls-royce-jv-for-110-kn-jet-engine-soon-rolls-royce-india/|publisher=INDIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH WING|date=12 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rolls Royce - DRDO|url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/drdo-news-documents/NPC12-13_July_2020.pdf|publisher=Defence Research and Development Organisation|format=PDF|pages=48}}</ref><ref name="INDIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH WING">{{cite news|title=DRDO-Rolls Royce engine deal in next two years, talks on feasibility studies|url=https://idrw.org/drdo-rolls-royce-engine-deal-in-next-two-years-talks-now-on-feasibility-studies/|publisher=INDIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH WING|date=3 March 2021}}</ref> The program might be fully funded by India and India will have the IP rights of the engine.<ref name="INDIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH WING"/>