 "Why India planning its own fifth-generation fighter jet is a big deal")
India’s Air Force just got a huge boost. The Narendra Modi government has approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme execution model to bolster the country’s aerial combat capabilities.
On Tuesday (May 27), the Defence Ministry said that Rajnath Singh has approved the “Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model”. “In a significant push towards enhancing India’s indigenous defence capabilities and fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model,” it said.
The decision comes amid Operation Sindoor, when India launched military strikes against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and also neutralised drones and missiles fired from across the border. It also comes at a time when the nuclear-abled Islamabad is looking to acquire at least 40 J-35A stealth fifth-generation jets from China.
But what do we know of fifth-generation fighter jets?
What are fifth-generation fighter jets?
While fifth generation jets are quite a buzzword, what does it actually mean? Simply put, fifth generation fighter jets are stealthier than traditional fighter jets. They are designed to have superior situational awareness and get the first shot in any engagement.
According to Business Insider, only aircraft with features such as stealth capabilities which can cruise at supersonic speeds without engaging its afterburners can be classified as fifth-generation fighters.
As of now, only a few countries are capable of making these fighters; they are the United States, China and Russia.
As of today, the US has the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. Meanwhile, the Russian fifth-gen jet is the Sukhoi Su-57 and it was introduced into service in 2019. A single- seater jet, it is armed with air-to-air, air-to-ground, anti-ship as well as anti-radiation missiles.
China also boasts of the Chengdu J-20 , which also goes by the name of Mighty Dragon.
Other countries such as South Korea and Turkey are also developing their own fifth-generation aircraft. According to reports, at least 40 of South Korea’s KAI KF-X is to be delivered by 2028 and a total of 120 aircraft is to be deployed by 2032. Turkey is expected to induct its TAI TF-X planes by 2030.
What is India’s fifth-gen — the AMCA?
India’s answer to fifth generation fighter jets is the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme (AMCA), which has been in the pipeline since 2010.
According to those in the know, the AMCA is a 25-tonne twin-engine aircraft having advanced stealth features to avoid detection by enemy radar. According to Dr Krishna Rajendra Neeli, project director of AMCA at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), India’s fifth-gen fighter would be on par or even superior to other aircraft in use globally.
It is expected to be able to carry up to four long-range air-to-air missiles and several precision-guided munitions, with a payload of 1,500 kg, Indian Express reports. Moreover, the AMCA will also include a Divertless Supersonic Intake, which has been produced in India for the first time, as per a report by The Hindu.
Last year, in March, the PM-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the development of five prototypes of the twin-engine AMCA at an initial cost of Rs 15,000 crore.
The clock is now ticking on AMCA with the ADA committed to delivering the jet’s prototype by 2031, and the series production is slated to start by 2035. “We have fixed a 10-year timeline, starting today. After the first prototype is developed, we will go in for series production, which should commence by 2035,” a source was quoted as telling The Print.
It’s important to note that the development of India’s fifth-gen fighter follows the same timeline as the US — that’s because of the technological hurdles that are expected along the way. As the Economic Times said, “India’s fifth gen doesn’t just require stealth airframe design, but also innovations in propulsion, electronic warfare, and integrated battle networks.”
Now, with the Defence Ministry giving the green light for the AMCA programme execution model, the ADA will seek a partner, be it state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or private companies, like TATA, Adani, L&T.
“The Execution Model approach provides equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis. They can bid either independently or as joint ventures or as consortia,” read a statement released by the defence ministry. “The entity/bidder should be an Indian company compliant with the laws and regulations of the country.”
Why is it crucial for India to have a fifth-gen fighter jet?
It’s essential that India moves quickly on the development of the fifth-generation aircraft. This is because the Indian Air Force is currently grappling with just 30-32 fighter squadrons, against the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. Moreover, at least eight more squadrons are slated for retirement over the next 10 years.
There’s also the fact that India is facing a number of rising threats; there’s Pakistan that is building up its arsenal with the help of China and Turkey as was evident during Operation Sindoor.
Moreover, Beijing continues to be a menace — and they boast of a highly advanced air force with not only fifth-generation fighter jets but also reportedly building and carrying out trial of its sixth-generation aircraft.
The AMCA project will further boost India’s defence creation capability and prove to the world that it is not dependent on others for its security. The project will give a thrust to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India ’ idea.
What do we know of China’s 6G fighters?
While India is moving forward with its fifth-generation fighters, China is already surged ahead with testing their new sixth-generation fighter prototypes.
According to reports, there are two being tested out — one reportedly developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation with its serial number suggesting it had been designated as the J-36, and another featuring V-shaped wings and twin engines that analysts have provisionally named the J-50.
Notable features of these jets was that they had a tailless design and a rare three-engine setup. As Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told South China Morning Post, “The three-engine configuration is interesting, considering that the J-36 is a large aircraft, almost the size of a modern bomber, which would need high-performance engines with long-range and high payload characteristics.”
It’s important to note that joint sixth-generation fighter projects are also underway in other countries — Britain, Japan, and Italy are collaborating on the Global Combat Air Programme, while France, Germany, and Spain are working on the Future Combat Air System.
With inputs from agencies
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