SOURCE: AFI
In a significant move toward refining the aerodynamics and stealth profile of India’s fifth-generation fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has issued a tender for the fabrication of specialized wind tunnel models and structural test boxes. The testing campaign, which will run in parallel with the ongoing Critical Design Review (CDR) and prototype manufacturing efforts, is seen as part of the natural evolution of the AMCA’s development and not a delay.
Sources close to the AMCA program confirm that the wind tunnel testing is aimed at validating the aerodynamic refinements, control surface efficiency, and stealth shaping characteristics of the aircraft in various flight regimes. The models will undergo extensive testing in subsonic, transonic, and supersonic conditions to support final configuration validation before the first flight.
“The issuance of this RFP [Request for Proposal] for wind tunnel models is a routine step in the iterative design and validation process,” a senior ADA official told idrw.org. “It will not delay the rollout or the first flight of the AMCA, provided the testing proceeds in parallel with CDR and manufacturing timelines—as is currently planned.”
The tender calls for highly accurate, instrumented scale models of the AMCA, including those with surface pressure taps, force balances, and radar cross-section testing features. Structural test boxes will be used to simulate internal load-bearing and stress profiles during flight maneuvers and weapons carriage.
The AMCA, being developed by ADA under DRDO, is India’s most ambitious fighter aircraft program to date. Designed to be a fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter, the AMCA is expected to feature internal weapons bays, diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI), serpentine air intakes, advanced avionics, and radar-absorbent materials (RAM) to reduce radar cross-section.
With the first prototype targeted for rollout by late 2028 and a maiden flight expected in 2029, the project is currently in the advanced stages of its design finalization. HAL, in partnership with private-sector firms, is expected to lead the production effort once the design clears all technical milestones.
While wind tunnel campaigns may seem like backtracking to the untrained eye, they are essential steps in ensuring that the final product meets both performance and survivability requirements in a contested environment. The ongoing RFP reinforces that ADA is aligning with best global practices, ensuring India’s AMCA enters service as a robust, thoroughly validated platform.
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