India’s 5th-gen stealth fighter jet project gets greenlight as AMCA programme enters execution phase

In a milestone move toward building India’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Defence Ministry has officially cleared the execution model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme — a critical step in realising India’s ambition to join the elite club of nations capable of designing and producing next-gen combat aircraft.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday approved the execution framework for AMCA, under which the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will lead the project in collaboration with private industry partners. The approval signals New Delhi’s commitment to accelerate the development of the AMCA prototype and deepen indigenous aerospace capabilities under the larger vision of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance).

Termed as India’s answer to fifth-generation air power, the AMCA is expected to be a stealth-heavy, multirole platform incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as sensor fusion, internal weapons bays, advanced avionics, and supercruise capability. Once operational, it will significantly enhance India’s air superiority posture, especially in contested environments.

2035 deadline for India’s most ambitious fighter jet yet

While the execution model has now been formally approved, the clock is ticking on what will be India's most technologically demanding aviation programme to date. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has committed to delivering the AMCA by 2035.

“This journey began only in 2024, when the Cabinet Committee on Security sanctioned the project,” DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat had previously said. “It will take ten years, and we have committed to delivering the platform by 2035.”

That timeline is consistent with global trends. Fifth-generation fighters, such as the U.S. F-35 or China’s J-20, have historically taken over a decade from development to induction, often with major technological hurdles along the way. AMCA is no different. It will require not just stealth airframe design, but also innovations in propulsion, electronic warfare, and integrated battle networks.

One of the most critical components — the engine — will likely be developed through a joint venture with a foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM), a move DRDO says is intended to mitigate risk and accelerate development.

“We learnt a lot from the Kaveri engine, but that was fourth-gen. Now we’re aiming for sixth-gen engine tech,” said Kamat. Discussions with international partners are underway.

Directed energy weapons and future warfare

Separately, India has demonstrated another leap in futuristic warfare — a successful test of a 30-kilowatt directed energy weapon (DEW) capable of neutralising drones and electronic surveillance assets.

The Mk-II(A) laser system, developed by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), shot down multiple drones during trials at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool.

With this test, India joined a select group of countries — including the US, Russia, and China — with demonstrated high-energy laser capabilities. DRDO is also working on electromagnetic pulse and microwave-based systems, with an eye on building a suite of "Star Wars"-like technologies for future conflicts.

“The synergy between DRDO labs, industry, and academia in this programme is setting the tone for what the future of warfare will look like,” Kamat said.

A turning point in India's defence ecosystem

The twin developments — AMCA entering the execution phase and laser weapons proving operational capability — indicate a strategic shift in India’s defence outlook.

With several major indigenous systems like VSHORAD, MPATGM, and LCA Mk II also nearing induction, India’s defence industrial base is poised for a transformative decade.

For defence analysts and aerospace watchers, the AMCA's progression will be a key indicator of whether India can achieve genuine strategic autonomy in aerial warfare — and whether the 2035 target is ambitious optimism or a truly deliverable milestone.