India’s Stealth Jet Race Heats Up: DRDO Readies AMCA EOI, HAL Prepares Consortium Bid

India is ramping up its efforts to develop a homegrown fifth-generation stealth fighter, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) set to release an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a key player in Indian fighter aircraft manufacturing, is preparing to team up with private sector partners to bid for the AMCA contract.

 

Key Highlights

 

•⁠  ⁠Open Bidding Model: In a significant shift towards collaboration between public and private sectors, HAL will now compete against major private companies like L&T, Tata Advanced Systems, Adani, and others for the chance to manufacture India’s next-generation stealth fighter.

 

•⁠  ⁠Prototype and Production: The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will take charge of selecting a production partner and will oversee the initial production of five AMCA prototypes. Future orders will hinge on how well these prototypes perform.

 

•⁠  ⁠Industry Participation: HAL has reached out to domestic companies to form a consortium, aiming to combine private sector innovation and efficiency with its own extensive experience in aerospace production.

 

•⁠  ⁠Strategic Importance: The AMCA program is crucial for India’s goal of modernizing its air force and decreasing reliance on foreign defense imports, with plans for the first prototype to be rolled out by 2031.

 

Outlook

 

This groundbreaking initiative is set to energize India’s aerospace industry, promote healthy competition, and speed up the country’s path to self-sufficiency in defense technology. The development of the AMCA could transform India’s air power capabilities for many years to come.

 

Source: The Hindu Business Line, ThePrint, Economic Times