SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India has reportedly received offers from Germany and Spain to join their 6th Generation Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, as well as an invitation from the UK-Japan-Italy consortium to participate in their Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). While these proposals signal the growing recognition of India as a strategic defence partner, New Delhi remains committed to its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, a 5.5-generation fighter jet project designed to bridge the gap between 5th and 6th-generation technologies.
While official discussions between the UK and India regarding GCAP have been confirmed, India has yet to publicly acknowledge the proposals from Germany and Spain.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have reiterated their focus on the AMCA program, a flagship indigenous effort that will incorporate advanced stealth, supercruise capabilities, and cutting-edge avionics. The AMCA is envisioned as a stepping stone toward developing a 6th-generation platform post-2040.
DRDO claims the AMCA will integrate some technologies associated with 6th-generation platforms, such as artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and low-observability features. India’s AMCA program is set for initial induction by 2035, with its developmental trajectory offering valuable experience for a full-fledged 6th-generation project post-2040.
The AMCA’s design philosophy aims to position it as a “5.5-generation” platform. This includes significant advancements over traditional 5th-generation fighters, such as the F-22 Raptor, which first flew in 1997. Technologies now considered cutting-edge for 5th-gen fighters are over two decades old, and the AMCA’s advanced features could narrow the technological gap between 5th and 6th-generation jets.
Features likely to be incorporated into the AMCA include Directed energy weapons and AI-assisted mission management systems that will set it apart from current 5th-generation fighter jets.
While declining to join the FCAS or GCAP programs at this stage, India recognizes the importance of developing a 6th-generation platform in the long term. The AMCA’s success is expected to lay the groundwork for future projects, with the development of a 6th-generation fighter anticipated to commence in the 2040s, targeting induction by 2050.
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