SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a landmark move to accelerate the development and production of India’s fifth-generation fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting Indian private firms to collaborate as Joint Venture (JV) partners. This initiative, announced in early 2025, aims to harness private sector expertise and capacity to manufacture AMCA assemblies, marking a significant step toward self-reliance in India’s aerospace sector. With HAL anchoring the project and private firms playing a pivotal role, the collaboration promises to reshape the country’s defense manufacturing landscape.
The proposed JV will see HAL partnering with four Indian private companies, with equity stakes clearly delineated: HAL will hold a commanding 50% share, while each of the four partners will contribute 12.5%. This structure ensures HAL retains strategic oversight while distributing manufacturing responsibilities across a consortium of capable firms. The AMCA, a stealth multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and DRDO, is a complex platform requiring advanced engineering and modular construction—attributes the JV aims to address through a division of labor.
Each partner will be assigned a specific “work package,” corresponding to key assemblies of the AMCA. These packages are:
- Work Package-1: Supply of the fully equipped front fuselage and landing gear assembly.
- Work Package-2: Supply of the fully equipped center fuselage, air-intake, and aileron assembly.
- Work Package-3: Supply of the fully equipped rear fuselage, horizontal tail, flaperon, and flap assembly.
- Work Package-4: Supply of the fully equipped wing and vertical tail assembly.
Each firm will deliver a turnkey solution for its assigned package, encompassing tool design, material procurement, manufacturing, and assembly. HAL will coordinate the effort, ensuring integration and quality control across the production chain. This modular approach not only streamlines production but also leverages the specialized strengths of private players, fostering innovation and efficiency.
The tentative production schedule outlined in the EOI reflects the AMCA’s ambitious roadmap. Starting in the financial year 2035-36, the JV is expected to deliver 9 aircraft assemblies annually through 2038-39. From 2039-40 to 2046-47, production will ramp up to 10 aircraft per year, culminating in a total of 126 units. These figures, however, remain provisional, subject to refinements based on Indian Air Force (IAF) requirements, funding, and technological milestones. The IAF has projected a need for 5-7 squadrons of AMCA—approximately 90-126 aircraft—to bolster its fleet amid a declining squadron strength, currently at 31 against a sanctioned 42.
The AMCA’s production follows years of development, with its first prototype flight targeted for 2028-29 and operational induction anticipated by 2035. The JV’s role will be critical in meeting these deadlines, transitioning the aircraft from design to serial production.
HAL’s EOI, with a submission deadline of May 7, 2025, invites Indian private firms with proven expertise in aerospace manufacturing, tooling, and assembly to step forward. The selection process will likely prioritize companies with a track record in defense production—potential candidates include Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Forge, Larsen & Toubro, and VEM Technologies, all of which have collaborated with HAL or DRDO on past projects like the Tejas LCA or artillery systems. The chosen partners will need to demonstrate financial stability, technical capability, and the ability to scale operations to meet the AMCA’s demanding specifications, including stealth features, supercruise capability, and advanced avionics.
Each work package represents a significant undertaking. For instance, the front fuselage (Work Package-1) includes integrating radar and cockpit systems, while the wing and vertical tail (Work Package-4) demand precision for stealth and aerodynamic performance. The turnkey requirement—covering everything from raw materials to final assembly—underscores HAL’s intent to offload substantial responsibility to its partners, while retaining overall control.
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.