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Defence & Security
Mahesh

03/07/24 11:25 AM IST

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft prototype expected by 2028-29

In News
  • The Defence Ministry is working out a model for bringing in the private sector in a big way, which is important for timely execution of the project.
  • The first prototype is expected to be ready by 2028-29.
About AMCA
  • The design of the AMCA is ready.
  • The prototype is expected to roll out by 2028-29 and the production is expected to begin from 2032-33.
  • The target is to have it ready for induction in 2034, a decade from project sanction.
  • In preparation to have the manufacturing and deliveries on track, there is significant private industry involvement that is being envisaged.
  • The AMCA project is particularly critical as it is India’s only FGFA that is planned for induction at a time when a series of such FGFA development projects are making progress worldwide.
  • China, which has made great progress in the development and deployment of FGFAs, has recently deployed its twin-engine J-20 FGFA in Tibet bordering India.
  • The AMCA project got sanction from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in March.
  • It is envisaged as a 25-tonne twin engine stealth aircraft with internal weapons bay and diverterless supersonic intake which has been developed in India for the first time.
  • It is intended to have an internal carriage of 1,500 kg of payload and 5,500 kg of external payload with 6,500 kg of internal fuel.
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is the production agency for the project, has already initiated manufacturing activities.
  • The development of AMCA is planned to be carried out in two phases, a MK1 with the General Electric F414 engine and a Mk2 with a more powerful engine planned to be co-developed in partnership with Saran of France for which discussions are under way.
  • An aircraft development project, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk2, a larger and more capable aircraft than the present LCA, is on track and the prototype is expected to be ready by 2027.
  • In September 2022, the CCS gave sanction for the development of LCA-Mk2 at a total cost of ₹9,000 crore.
  • The LCA-Mk2 will also be powered by the GE F-414 engine which produces 98kN thrust compared to 84kN thrust of the GE-404 engine powering the LCA Mk1 and MK1A.
About LCA
  • LCA is an advanced technology, single seat, single engine, supersonic, light-weight, all-weather, multi-role, air superiority fighter designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea combat roles.
  • The LCA programme was conceived in 1983. The project definition phase was completed in 1989 and the full scale engineering development (FSED) phase-I was sanctioned in 1993.
  • Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) was established by the government in 1984 to manage the LCA programme. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, (HAL) is the principal partner with the participation of various DRDO & CSIR Laboratories.
Source- The Hindu

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