SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a forward-looking move, a senior Indian Air Force (IAF) official speaking to idrw.org has revealed that while the 5.5-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program remains a priority, the IAF has initiated preliminary studies for a 6th-generation fighter jet to replace its older Su-30MKI fleet. The official emphasized the need to define specific requirements by early 2030, focusing on capabilities such as twice the range and weapons payload of the AMCA, with the goal of having a ready prototype by 2040. This ambitious roadmap underscores the IAF’s commitment to maintaining air superiority in a rapidly evolving global threat landscape.
The IAF’s Su-30MKI fleet, comprising over 260 aircraft as of 2025, has been the backbone of its combat capabilities since its induction in 2002. However, with the fleet’s airframes approaching the end of their 30-year service life by the mid-2030s, and the geopolitical challenges posed by advanced fighters like China’s J-20 and emerging 6th-generation programs globally, the IAF is looking ahead to a next-generation platform. The AMCA, a 5.5-generation stealth fighter expected to enter service by 2035, will address immediate needs, but the IAF is already envisioning a more advanced successor.
“We have started to study other 6th-generation programs that have been intimated so that we can come up with our own requirements by early 2030,” the senior IAF official told idrw.org. Programs like the UK-led Tempest, the US’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), and France-Germany-Spain’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) are likely serving as benchmarks. These initiatives emphasize features like manned-unmanned teaming, directed-energy weapons, advanced stealth, and AI-driven decision-making—capabilities the IAF aims to incorporate into its own vision.
The Su-30MKI, a heavy-class fighter, has a combat range of approximately 1,500 km (extendable to 3,000 km with aerial refueling) and can carry a weapons payload of up to 8 tons, including air-to-air missiles, precision-guided munitions, and anti-ship weapons. However, the IAF official highlighted the need for a significant leap in performance for its 6th-generation fighter. “We need to see what we want in a next-gen fighter that will replace the Su-30MKI in terms of capabilities, so it might require twice the range and weapons payload carrying capabilities of AMCA,” the official stated.
A combat range of 3,000 km (without refueling) and a payload capacity of 13 tons would position the IAF’s 6th-gen fighter as a formidable platform, capable of conducting deep-strike missions across the Indo-Pacific region and dominating contested airspace. Such specifications would allow the IAF to project power far beyond its borders, countering threats from adversaries like China, whose J-20 boasts a range of around 2,000 km and a payload of 11 tons. The increased payload would also enable the integration of next-generation weapons, such as hypersonic missiles and laser systems, aligning with global trends in 6th-generation fighter design.
Achieving these ambitious goals by 2040 will require significant technological advancements and strategic planning. The IAF’s timeline—defining requirements by 2030 and having a prototype ready by 2040—mirrors global 6th-gen programs, which aim for operational deployment by the mid-2030s. However, India faces unique challenges, particularly in aero-engine development, a critical bottleneck for its indigenous programs.
Beyond propulsion, the IAF’s 6th-gen fighter will need to integrate advanced technologies like adaptive stealth (active camouflage), AI-driven autonomy for manned-unmanned teaming with loyal wingman drones, and thermal management systems for directed-energy weapons. The Su-30MKI’s replacement will also require next-gen avionics, such as AI-based sensor fusion and 360-degree situational awareness, to counter evolving threats like hypersonic missiles and swarm drones.
The IAF’s focus on a 6th-gen fighter reflects the shifting strategic landscape in Asia. China’s rapid military modernization, including the development of the J-20 and potential 6th-gen projects, poses a long-term challenge. Meanwhile, global powers like the US and its allies are investing heavily in next-gen fighters, with the NGAD program aiming to replace the F-22 by the late 2030s. India’s 6th-gen ambitions are thus both a necessity for deterrence and a bid to maintain relevance in the global aerospace hierarchy.
NOTE: Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.