India Issues RFP to Private Firms for Fifth-Gen AMCA Fighter Prototypes

India's long-standing ambition to develop an indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), has reached a pivotal stage with the Ministry of Defence officially issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for its prototype development. This significant announcement, widely reported across credible Indian and international media on May 27-28, 2026, marks a major step forward for the 'Make in India' initiative in the defence sector. The RFP has been issued to three carefully selected private-sector consortia: Tata Advanced Systems, a consortium led by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and another consortium spearheaded by Bharat Forge, collaborating with BEML and Data Patterns. Notably, the state-owned aerospace giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been excluded from this initial prototype development phase, a decision that underscores a strategic shift by the government to foster greater private sector participation and competition in critical defence projects. This move aims to leverage the innovation, efficiency, and advanced manufacturing capabilities of India's private industry to expedite the AMCA program. The AMCA project is envisioned as India's most ambitious home-grown aerospace effort to date, designed to produce a single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and potentially the Indian Navy. The aircraft is planned to feature advanced stealth technology for low radar cross-section, internal weapon bays, supercruise capability (sustained supersonic flight without afterburners), sensor fusion, and AI-enabled combat systems. The development of five flying prototypes and one structural test specimen is central to this phase, with the government committing approximately ₹15,000 crore (around $1.8 billion) for the prototype development and testing. The RFP outlines stringent timelines and targets for the selected private partner. The first flight of an AMCA prototype is mandated to occur within 30 months of the contract signing, indicating an aggressive development schedule. Furthermore, a comprehensive 1,800-sortie flight test program must be completed within 84 months (seven years) of the contract, before the aircraft can transition to series production. Defence officials anticipate the first prototype to be rolled out by 2029, with the maiden flight following in the same year or early 2030s. Full-scale induction of AMCA squadrons into the Indian Air Force is projected to begin around 2035. Engine development remains a critical aspect of the AMCA program. The initial AMCA Mk1 variant is expected to be powered by the American GE F414 engine. For the more advanced AMCA Mk2, India aims for a more powerful, indigenous engine, which is planned to be co-developed with foreign collaboration. Recent reports indicate a proposal for a joint venture between France's Safran Aircraft Engines and India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) for this purpose, with an announcement by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in August 2025 confirming co-development with Safran. However, a more recent development in September 2026 highlighted a partnership between Reliance Industries Limited (India) and Rolls-Royce (UK) to design, develop, and manufacture an indigenous combat engine for Indian fighter jets, adding another dimension to the engine program. The AMCA is considered vital for the Indian Air Force, which has been facing a dwindling squadron strength, well below its sanctioned requirement. The AMCA, alongside the indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, is intended to form the backbone of the IAF's future fighter fleet. This program also gains significance in the context of regional security, particularly with China's rapid advancements in fifth-generation fighter technology, including the deployment of J-20 fighters and the development of J-35 stealth fighters. India's move to open up fighter jet manufacturing to the private sector represents a significant policy shift aimed at bolstering self-reliance, fostering innovation, creating additional production lines, and enhancing efficiency within the defence industrial base. The deadline for submitting bids for the AMCA project was initially in August 2026, but it has been extended by two months to October 30, 2026, after prospective bidders requested additional time to prepare their comprehensive proposals. This extension indicates the complexity and magnitude of the project, requiring thorough planning and detailed submissions from the competing private entities. The final selection of the winning bidder is anticipated to be completed within four to five months of the RFP responses, following which the chosen entity will establish a new company within three months, with strict regulations on foreign shareholding to ensure Indian ownership and control.

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