India’s AMCA Program Advances with ADA’s Call for EOI

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has announced an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet. This initiative aims to identify and shortlist Indian companies, whether as single entities, joint ventures, or consortia, to participate in the development, prototyping, flight testing, and certification of the AMCA. The ADA requires applicants to comply with all relevant Indian laws and regulations and to possess strong capabilities in the aerospace and defense sectors. These capabilities must include the ability to implement the AMCA design, along with expertise in engineering, manufacturing, integration, testing, and customer support. A key requirement is the establishment of a manufacturing facility for serial production. The entire project, encompassing development, testing, and certification, is slated to be completed within an eight-year timeframe. The program gained further impetus with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s approval of the AMCA Programme Execution Model in May, a move designed to strengthen India’s indigenous defense capabilities and foster a robust aerospace ecosystem.