India to Develop Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

Key Points

• 1The CCS cleared a Rs 15,000 crore project to design and develop the AMCA, a fifth-generation fighter jet.
• 2The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will execute the program, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will manufacture the aircraft.
• 3The AMCA Mk1 will have the US-built GE414 engine of the 90 kilonewton (kN) class, while the more advanced AMCA Mk2 will fly on the more powerful 110kN engine; the full development is expected to take around 10 years.
• 4The aircraft will feature stealth capabilities, an internal weapons bay, and a large internal fuel tank.
• 5The IAF requires seven squadrons of the AMCA to begin with.