India to release Request for Proposal for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft manufacturing

Key facts

• The government will release a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) by next month to three private sector-driven industrial groups for the manufacturing of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved approximately ₹15,000 crore in March 2024 for the prototype development phase of the AMCA, which is designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
• The three shortlisted consortia are: Larsen & Toubro working with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Dynamatic Technologies; Bharat Forge teaming up with BEML and Data Patterns; and Tata Advanced Systems Limited.
• The AMCA Mk1 will be powered by American GE F-414 engines, while the Mk2 variant will use a 110-130 kilonewton class engine being negotiated with Safran of France and Rolls-Royce of Britain.
• The government intends to establish a parallel production line via a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model to reduce reliance on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• The government is prepared to transfer critical ballistic missile technology, previously the exclusive domain of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), to private firms.