![JMA – Ninja & Deep Jandu [Official MV] Kaptaan](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-dsfIh319s0/maxresdefault.jpg "JMA – Ninja & Deep Jandu [Official MV] Kaptaan")
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gave the go ahead to the estimated Rs 15,000 crore proposal on Thursday, moving the project up from the development stage and prototype production. India has an ambitious target to fly the Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) – a fifth generation fighter jet – by 2028.
The new jets will feature the latest military technologies, including stealth features, integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), long range targeting capabilities and the ability to jointly operate with unmanned systems. As per the plans, four to five prototype aircraft will be produced and then tested and validated before serial production. The eventual order for the jets is expected to be in the range of lakhs of crores of rupees.
India has decided to produce the next generation fighter jets with considerable involvement of the private sector. As per plans, the eventual production of the jets will be undertaken by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), consisting of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Aeronautical Development Authority and a private sector partner.
The private sector company, which will be chosen after a selection process that will look deeply into technical capabilities, would have the opportunity to be catapulted into a select global league capable of manufacturing cutting edge aeronautical systems.
All major western defence manufacturers are privately held and are supported by government-funded labs and institutions whenever required. The SPV model envisaged for the mega project is expected to produce an Indian aviation giant but will also come with great responsibility as the aircraft would stay in service for over three decades, requiring life support through it all.The HAL already has plans to offer its existing facilities in Nasik to the private sector partner for manufacturing the AMCA in the future. The same facility is currently being upgraded to manufacture Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A for an ongoing air force order.The AMCA project is also linked to India’s ambitions to have an indigenous fighter jet engine programme. The initial batch of 40 AMCA jets as well as the prototype will be powered by the GE 414 engine but work is currently on to select a foreign partner to jointly develop a more powerful engine capable of delivering 110 kn of thrust.
