AMCA is designed as a single-seat, twin-engine combat aircraft. The AMCA Mark 1 will come equipped with 5th generation technologies and Mark 2 will have the incremental 6th generation technology upgrades.[7][8][9] The AMCA is intended to perform a multitude of missions including Air supremacy, Ground-Strike, Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Electronic Warfare (EW) missions. It is intended to supplant the Sukhoi Su-30MKI air superiority fighter, which forms the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet.[7][10]
The AMCA design is optimized for low radar cross section and supercruise capability.[11][12] Feasibility study on AMCA and the preliminary design stage have been completed, and the project entered the detailed design phase in February 2019.[13] The AMCA is currently the only 5th generation fighter under development in India.[14]
Development
AMCA Programme
The AMCA programme, earlier known as the Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA) programme, is an Indian programme to develop a fifth-generation combat aircraft. It began as a parallel programme to the Indo-Russia Sukhoi/HAL FGFA.[15] The AMCA programme was launched in 2010.[16] Although envisioned as a 20-tonne class fighter earlier,[15] now AMCA is 25-tonne class fighter.[17] A feasibility study was launched in October 2010,[18] followed by Project Definition and Preliminary Design phase in 2013.[19] From November 2013 to December 2014, 9 design configurations of AMCA, starting from 3B-01 to 3B-09, were studied using CAD, low-speed - high-speed wind tunnel testing, and radar cross section (RCS) testing. By the end of 2014, configuration 3B-09 was chosen.[20] In 2015, the basic design configuration of AMCA was finalized,[21] and has been accepted by IAF in 2016.[22] The design work was completed in 2023, and approval for the ₹15,000 crore (US$1.8 billion) project for prototype development was received in March 2024.[23]DRDO expects to roll out the first prototype in three years and the first flight in one to one and (a) half years after that".[17][24] Total 5 prototypes are to be built.[5][6] The first flight is expected in late 2028. The first three prototypes will carry out developmental flight trials, whereas the next two will focus on weapon trials. The prototype will be rolled out at an interval of 8-9 months.[25][26] Mass production of the aircraft is planned to start by 2035.[27][28]
The IAF plan to procure at least 125 AMCA in Mark-1 and Mark-2 configurations.[29] The Mark 2 of AMCA is expected to have a more powerful engine,[17] sixth-generation features and technologies to stay relevant in the coming decades.[30]
Sixth-generation technologies
In an interview given in 2020, the then Air Force Chief R. K. S. Bhadauria stated that "The planning process is already underway for combat systems like optionally manned sixth generation technologies, smart wingman concept, swarm drones, long persistent HALE (High-Altitude Long Endurance) platforms and hypersonic weapons, among others.[31] He also added that it is imperative to incorporate such advanced technologies to keep AMCA relevant.[32] It is also reaffirmed by IAF's current chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari.[33]
Design
Overview
The AMCA is a twin-engine, stealth supersonic multi-role fighter designed for the IAF.[7] At present, the AMCA is planned as a fifth generation fighter but will integrate emerging, best-of-breed sixth-generation technologies over time.[32] The AMCA would be the first fifth generation fighter to enter service with the Indian Air Force.[34][35]
The AMCA is designed with shoulder mounted diamond shaped trapezoidal wings, a profile with substantial area-ruling to reduce drag at transonic speeds, and a stabilatorV-tail with large fuselage mounted tail-wing.[36] Flight control surfaces include leading and trailing-edge flaps, ailerons, rudders on the canted vertical stabilizers, and all-moving tailplanes; these surfaces also serve as air brakes. The cockpit features a single seat configuration which is placed high, near the air intakes and wings of the aircraft to provide good visibility to the pilot with a single bubble canopy.[36] A leading-edge root extension (LERX), which is a small fillet, is situated on the front section of the intake and wings of the aircraft. It has a typically roughly rectangular shape, running forward from the leading edge of the wing root to a point along the fuselage.[36] The aircraft features a tricycle landing gear configuration. The weapons bay is placed on the underside of the fuselage between the nose and main landing gear. The AMCA is designed to produce a very small radar cross-section, to accomplish this it features "S-shaped" air-intakes to reduce radar exposure to the fan blade which increases stealth, uses an internal weapons bay and features the use of composites and other materials.[36] The flight control surfaces are controlled by a central management computer system. The AMCA will have some sixth generation characteristics such as an optionally crewed, directed energy weapons, capable of controlling UCAVs, and swarm drones.[37][32]
Stealth and radar signature
The AMCA design has inherent radar stealth, achieved through twin-tail layout,[16] platform edge alignment and serration, body conformal antenna and low intercept radar, diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) with serpentine ducts which conceal engine fan blades, internal weapons bay and extensive use of composites in airframe.[16] According to Janes Information Services quoting ADA, the airframe of AMCA will have 38–40% composite. As of October 2022, designers are still in the process of refining the radar deflection capability of AMCA.[38] It will also use radar-absorbent materials wherever necessary.[39]
Sensors and avionics
The AMCA is expected to have distributed passive sensors with Artificial intelligence (AI) assisted multi-sensor data fusion to increase situational awareness and to work in tandem with the advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite onboard AMCA.[40][41] The AMCA has a distributed processing system employing fast processors and smart subsystems.[42] The AMCA will also have an integrated vehicle health monitoring system which works on sensor fusion.[43]
AMCA will be equipped with a larger and powerful variant of the Uttam AESA Radar which will use gallium nitride (GaN) technology.[44] It will be mounted on a mechanically steerable mount.[36] An onboard condition monitoring system is also planned to be included in the AMCA.[45] The platform will be equipped with a quadruple digital fly-by-optics control system using fibre optic cables to reduce weight, increase the rate of data transfer and reduce electromagnetic interference.[39]
Cockpit
The AMCA will have a glass cockpit equipped with a wide panoramic touchscreen display for enhanced man-machine interaction, a multi function display (MFD) placed in portrait orientation and a wide-angle holographic head-up display (HUD). The AMCA will have hands-on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) arrangement with right hand on stick and left hand on throttle settings to ease the pilot workload.[46][41]
As per Government statement in Rajya Sabha during Winter Session 2021, there is a proposal to jointly develop engine for AMCA with the help of foreign partner using the know how from Kaveri engine development programme.[49]
On 15 July 2023, India and France agreed to collaborate for the joint development of a combat aircraft engine, which would power the Mark-2 variant of AMCA as part of the Horizon 2047 document for India-France strategic partnership. A roadmap for this project will be prepared between French firm Safran and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) before the end of 2023.[50][51]
On 18 November 2023, Dr. Samir V. Kamat of DRDO announced that the United States has provided the necessary permits, opening the door for GE Aerospace and HAL to jointly produce the General Electric F414 engine in India for HAL Tejas Mark 2 and for the first two squadrons of AMCA.[52][53]
As of September 2024, foreign firms who offered Joint Venture development includes US-origin General Electric, UK-origin Rolls-Royce and French-origin Safran. The latter two has also offered 100% intellectual property (IP) of engine design. The Safran and Rolls-Royce has also received clearance from their respective countries for the engine development.[54][55] Reportedly, Safran is the frontrunner for the deal and discussions are underway among Safran, ADA and GTRE as of October 2024. In October 2023, Safran and HAL also signed an MoU to develop industrial cooperation in forging parts’ manufacturing for commercial engines.[56]
Armament
The AMCA features an internal weapons bay for carrying missiles and standoff precision guided munitions in stealthy configuration, while also has provision for external hardpoints for carrying ordinance externally for non-stealthy missions.[57][58]Directed energy weapons are also planned to be equipped on the AMCA.[59]
Specifications can vary as the aircraft is still in development. All the information is based on available non-official sources - approximate and preliminary.
^"Medium Combat Aircraft". MCA Handouts at AI-09. Aeronautical Development Agency. 13 February 2009. Archived from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
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