All Options Open
gfiles|March 2017

Though development of its stealth aircraft, AMCA, has been put back by a few years, India has kept negotiation channels open with all the concerned countries and corporates.

MK Shukla
All Options Open

INDIA is pressing ahead with the development of its stealth Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) despite facing a host of engineering and designing problems. Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) director, CD Balaji, recently informed ‘Flight Global’ that the great majority of work for the shape of the AMCA has been completed. Yet, the first flight of the indigenous AMCA, according to Balaji, is planned for 2025. This reveals a significant departure from the ADA’s position in 2013 when the deadline for the first flight was scheduled for the end of the decade.

Obviously, the IAF can’t wait for that long as there are serious air power gaps between India and China. The IAF is already far below its sanctioned squadron strength of 42-45. Similarly, the Indian Navy (IN) is also in the desperate need for carrier based AMCA aircraft.

While the biggest challenge facing the indigenous AMCA, both for the IAF and the IN, is the development of Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) to enhance the stealth configuration of the aircraft, the issue of selection of the engine, though unsettled as yet, is narrowed to General Electric F414, which powers the Boeing F/A18 E/F Super Hornet, or the Eurojet EJ200, which powers the Euro fighter Typhoon. Clearly, the Kaveri engine developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment Kaveri is out of the reckoning.

Balaji said that once the engine is selected, it may take three or four more years to develop the aircraft.

In view of the usual inordinate delay in executing the AMCA project, New Delhi has requested Dassault Aviation to advance the delivery schedule of Rafale fighter jets to overcome the air power deficit. But the French manufacturer has stated that it was not possible as the jets have to be customised according to Indian specifications.

This story is from the March 2017 edition of gfiles.

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This story is from the March 2017 edition of gfiles.

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