State-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced on March 9 that it has started manufacturing the next-generation fighter jet known as the Advanced Medium Combat Fighter (AMCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The AMCA program, led by HAL in partnership with the government-run Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), aims to develop a replacement platform for the aging SEPECAT Jaguar and Dassault’s upgraded IAF, the Phantom 2000 fighter.
AMCA has been in design and early development for over a decade and is centered on a stealthy twin-engine multi-role platform that can deliver deep penetration strikes into enemy territory to destroy air defenses and valuable targets. It will also have super cruise capability as well as advanced avionics and artificial intelligence, which will improve pilot performance.
According to HAL officials, the AMCA has a combat weight of 20 tons in its baseline stealth configuration, with 1.5 tons of ammunition carried in the internal weapons bay. An additional 5 tons of fuel and ammunition could also be carried using external underwing hardpoints, although this would inevitably expand the aircraft’s radar cross-section.
It is understood that AMCA’s preliminary design review has been completed by the end of 2021, and the key design work is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
An early version of the AMCA will be powered by a pair of General Electric F414-INS6 turbofan engines, each rated at 98 kN of thrust. However, it is understood that super cruise can only be achieved if a 110 kN class engine is developed. DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Facility (GTRE) is reported to be developing a more powerful variant of the indigenous Kaveri engine, although progress so far appears to be modest.
HAL also said in late 2020 that it was seeking a joint venture with a private company that is the majority shareholder in the proposed joint venture to help cover development costs.
by Jr Ng
