SOURCE: AFI
In a recent opinion piece, Former Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane (Retd) provided a critical assessment of India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, highlighting the significant challenges it faces. According to him, the AMCA project is still at the design stage, and given the long cycle between design and development, it could take at least a decade before the fighter enters operational service. Drawing a comparison with the F-35 program, which took 16 years to move from concept to operational deployment, he cautioned that India’s fifth-generation fighter may only achieve full operational status around 2035-2040.
Gen Naravane’s concerns stem from India’s historical track record in indigenous fighter development, particularly with institutions like the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). While the AMCA is envisioned as a state-of-the-art fifth-generation stealth fighter, it remains in the preliminary design phase. The extensive time required for prototype development, flight testing, operational clearance, and setting up a stable production line raises questions about the feasibility of the optimistic timeline often projected by officials.
One of the key challenges, according to Gen Naravane, is the reluctance of HAL to involve private sector players in the AMCA program. ADA has been keen to bring in private industry partners to accelerate development and improve efficiency. However, HAL’s continued dominance over military aircraft production in India has led to concerns about bureaucratic inertia and delays. The former Army Chief’s remarks underline the necessity of greater private-sector involvement to ensure timely execution of such a complex defense program.
Gen Naravane also stressed that it is premature to compare the AMCA with established fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 or the Su-57. While the AMCA is positioned as India’s answer to these advanced platforms, it remains a conceptual design rather than a tested and proven aircraft. The F-35 has already seen widespread deployment across multiple air forces, and the Su-57, despite its production challenges, is still a fielded platform. In contrast, the AMCA has yet to produce a flying prototype, making direct comparisons unrealistic at this stage.
For the AMCA to succeed within a reasonable timeframe, it will require streamlined decision-making, robust funding, and significant technological advancements. The integration of private industry could play a crucial role in overcoming traditional inefficiencies, but this would require a shift in HAL’s approach. The challenges outlined by Gen Naravane serve as a stark reminder that while India’s ambition to develop a fifth-generation fighter is commendable, it must be backed by pragmatic execution strategies and institutional reforms.
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