India has taken a chance by attempting to develop its own 5th-generation stealth fighter plane, and Adani Defense & Aerospace’s participation in the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program of the Defense Ministry has been confirmed.
This allows private businesses to participate in an area that was previously the purview of government organizations, which marks a significant change in India’s security approach. The AMCA project, which is expected to cost ₹15,000 crore, should produce a cutting-edge fighter plane by 2034-2035.
Private Sector Steps Into Fighter Jet Development
For the first time, India has opened a major fighter jet development programme to private players. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently approved the AMCA Execution Model. This allows both public and private companies to join hands in building the country’s most advanced combat aircraft.
The AMCA will be a twin-engine, fifth-generation stealth fighter. It will be capable of air superiority, ground attack, and electronic warfare. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under DRDO, is leading the project.
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Adani Defense Confirms Entry
Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defense & Aerospace, confirmed the company’s interest. “So currently, the programme is in an EoI stage, and all of us have to submit our responses by 30th of September. We are definitely going to put in our response for the AMCA programme,” he said.
The Expression of Interest (EoI) phase is open until September 30. After that, shortlisted consortiums will move to the next stage. If selected, Adani Defense could play a key role in prototype development, flight testing, and certification.
10-Year Plan to Build India’s Air Power
According to Rajvanshi, the AMCA is planned as a decade-long project. “If successful, we get into serial production subsequently,” he added.
The first aircraft is expected to be ready for induction into the Indian Air Force by 2034–35. The AMCA is designed to reduce India’s reliance on foreign Defense equipment and boost indigenous manufacturing.
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Strategic Shift in Defense Manufacturing
This initiative is a major turning point in India’s defense strategy. The government is working with private firms like Adani Defense to lower costs and accelerate innovation, and in an attempt to make solid public-private partnerships, ADA has asked industrial consortiums to take the lead on important projects.
