SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hyderabad-based VEM Technologies, a key player in India’s private defence sector, is set to deepen its involvement in the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, the country’s ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter project. Having successfully manufactured the full-scale engineering model of the AMCA showcased at Aero India 2025, the company has now been tasked with contributing to the Tier-II manufacture of the aircraft’s fuselage for its prototype. This development marks a significant step in VEM’s growing footprint in India’s aerospace and defence ecosystem.
The full-scale model unveiled at Aero India 2025 held from February 10-14 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, drew widespread attention as a tangible representation of India’s push for self-reliance in advanced fighter jet technology. Constructed using indigenously sourced materials from Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) and other private firms, the model highlighted VEM Technologies’ engineering capabilities and its ability to collaborate with both public and private sector entities. Building on this success, VEM has now been entrusted with manufacturing specific sections of the AMCA fuselage for the initial 4-5 prototypes, company officials confirmed in an interview with idrw.org.
While the officials verified VEM’s expanded role in the AMCA program, they refrained from specifying which fuselage sections the company would produce. “The supply chain for the AMCA is still being established,” an official told idrw.org. “Clear suppliers will be identified as the aircraft progresses toward production, and more companies are expected to join the program as it advances.”
The AMCA, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a twin-engine, multi-role stealth fighter aimed at enhancing the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) combat capabilities. With its prototype slated for rollout by late 2026 or early 2027 and a maiden flight planned for 2028, the program is on a tight schedule to achieve certification by 2032 and induction by 2034. VEM’s involvement in the fuselage manufacturing for the initial prototypes underscores its critical role in meeting these milestones.
VEM Technologies has steadily built a reputation as a reliable partner in India’s defence manufacturing landscape. The company is presently contributing to the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program by producing its central fuselage, demonstrating its expertise in precision engineering and composite materials. Its work on the AMCA full-scale model, developed over four years, further showcased its ability to handle complex aerospace projects. Now, as a Tier-II supplier for the AMCA fuselage, VEM is poised to play a pivotal role in the aircraft’s transition from design to production.
The official speaking to idrw.org emphasized that while VEM’s current focus is on the fuselage sections for the first 4-5 prototypes, the company’s involvement could expand as the supply chain matures. The AMCA program, sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in March 2024 with a budget of ?15,000 crore for Phase-I development, is expected to involve a mix of public and private entities. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) remains the primary production agency, but the inclusion of private firms like VEM reflects a broader strategy to leverage India’s industrial ecosystem for faster execution.
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