Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO’s) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is likely to issue an expression of interest in a few weeks to invite bids for selecting a production partner for 5.5 generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) as the first prototype is scheduled for sometime between 2026 to 2027.
Sources said the expression of interest to be issued by the ADA is expected to tap into the emerging indigenous aerospace sector and offer them opportunities to get into the manufacturing and supply chain of 5.5 generation stealth AMCA.
Some of the similar Indian companies — like Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), L&T, Mahindra Aerospace, Dynamatic Technologies, Bharat Forge, Sansera Engineering, Azad Engineering, Aequs, and Godrej Aerospace — are already offering world class body parts, systems, sub-systems and components to leading aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.
Other global aerospace companies Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Collins Aerospace, too, are expanding supply sourcing from India.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 26 cleared the programme to begin production of the AMCA, through maiden private participation, to overcome the long awaited capacity deficiency of the Indian Air Force.
The announcement made it clear that only an indigenous firm, including a non-government firm, can pitch for the AMCA tender though they will be free to form either a joint venture with other entities or get into a consortium.
The ADA , which had conceived the project, will select the production partner and lead the programme for initial manufacturing of five prototypes of the next general stealth aircraft. Depending on the outcome, orders will follow.
To gear itself for public-private partnership, sources said, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will be for the first time facing a competition to get a licence to manufacture fighter aircraft for the IAF, had already sought proposals from indigenous companies last year to put together a model for future speedier manufacturing of aerospace platforms.
Currently, the HAL has to evaluate 24 responses it has got from the indigenous companies to form a consortium to bid for the AMCA programme.
While HAL will be the lead partner, other players shortlisted on the basis of their experience and financial strength will get equity depending on the money invested by them, said sources.
They had also informed the Ministry of Defence about it before Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement of the Indian Air Force (IAF), headed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, gave its report on March 3, suggesting short, medium and long-term measures to achieve desired capability enhancement goals of IAF in an “optimal manner.”
The state-owned company also suggested its willingness to open up for private participation in the manufacturing of fighter jets to expedite the whole process and augment the domestic aerospace ecosystem.
In fact, HAL is already experimenting with the public-private partnership. A Tejas LCA Mk-1A aircraft, being built for the first time with private participation, will be ready in some time.
For that, while the first centre fuselage assembly for the LCA Mk-1A was handed over by Vem Technologies to HAL in Hyderabad on May 30, the rear fuselage is being done by Alpha Tocol.
Vertical fins and radars have been outsourced to the TASL, and wings to the L&T. Besides, there are others too who are contributing to the development of the Tejas jets.
Published on June 1, 2025