India Targets 2028 for First Prototype of Advanced Combat Aircraft

India aims to develop a 5.5-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft prototype by 2028. The stealth fighter will feature a significant weapons load and concealed missile carriage. Mass production is expected to begin by 2035, with private and public sector collaboration. Further delays affect the LCA Mark 2 program.

India is pushing forward with plans to develop a 5.5-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, aiming to have the first prototype ready by 2028. The project’s roadmap was examined in detail during a recent meeting between the Indian Air Force and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Senior defence officials disclosed that the advanced combat aircraft would be a stealth design, weighing approximately 27 tonnes and capable of carrying a massive weapons load. The agencies are focusing on ensuring the aircraft can carry missiles in a fully concealed configuration to enhance its stealth capabilities.

If engine production and other activities proceed as scheduled, the prototype should be ready by 2028. The aircraft’s development and preparation for future warfare are expected to take six to seven years, with the DRDO collaborating with both public and private sector entities for development and production.

Mass production of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is anticipated to begin by 2035. Meanwhile, the project timeline for the LCA Mark 2 program has faced delays, originally slated for early 2025, now postponed due to funding and engine deal issues. The LCA aircraft series will be powered by American GE engines, with Mark 1 and Mark 1A using GE-404 engines and Mark 2 utilizing the more advanced GE-414 engines produced in India.