AMCA's Development Process to Begin This Year

"Development for AMCA's roll out expected to begin before the end of this year," informs AMCA Project Director, Dr Ashish Kumar Ghosh during DefExpo. AMCA is the indigenous fifth generation fighter Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The basic design process was completed followed by a detailed design process where detailed data was generated and a lot of validation tests were done. This was followed by a critical design review that is currently on. "The design of AMCA is complete. We are going through an elaborate review process right now. We do system by system review and then on an overall aircraft level. Once that's over, we will be ready for development," stated Kumar who is expecting a go ahead soon, before the end of this year.

"The first rollout will happen about three and a half years from the time the development starts and then about four and a half years later, the first flight will take place," said Kumar. Talking about AMCA's specialty, he highlighted that AMCA puts India to the list of only a couple of countries that have developed such advanced conventional aircraft.

AMCA's addition will strengthen Indian forces' capabilities. "With the progression of time, new technological advancements capabilities of the aircraft are enhanced. The best thing with the fifth-generation aircraft is stealth that allows reduction in radar cross section and other signatures," Kumar said. Keeping this in mind right from the beginning, the airframe is designed to align with these particular requirements. This makes it more advanced than the fourth-generation aircraft, he added.

The department of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)'s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is working on AMCA. An AMCA model was on display as part of DRDO's 3D (DRDO Design & Development) Ecosphere set up at DefExpo. In a first, an Advanced cockpit simulator is available for experience alongside other augmented and virtual reality Naval, Land and Air product simulators. A holographic deck providing a 3D experience of various defence products is present at the hall.