New Delhi has granted approval for developing a stealth aircraft as it pivots toward reducing dependence on defense imports

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the "execution model" for developing an Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) with an investment of $175 million. The Aeronautical Development Agency will spearhead the program through industry partnerships, according to a government statement on Tuesday.

AMCA is the South Asian country's ambitious project to develop a multi-role combat aircraft with stealth capabilities for the Indian Air Force and Navy.

In the development of the project, equal opportunities are being offered to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis, according to the Defense Ministry. Participants can bid independently, as joint ventures, or as part of a consortium. This marks a significant departure from the traditional practice of awarding advanced military R&D projects exclusively to state-owned agencies.

The AMCA is a single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, multi-role stealth fighter designed to perform a wide array of missions, including achieving air superiority, carrying out ground strikes, suppressing enemy air defenses, and waging electronic warfare.
The fighter jet program received in-principle clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, last year. Modi has made indigenous arms production one of his administration's core goals.

India's state-backed Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) plans to roll out the first prototype of the AMCA by 2027. The prototypes will then undergo developmental and weapon trials, with mass production expected to start by 2035. The Indian Air Force intends to buy at least 125 AMCAs in two different configurations, officials stated earlier.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of a military stand-off between India and Pakistan earlier this month, which tested the Indian military's combat aircraft capabilities. New Delhi used both foreign weapons, including warplanes and other systems of Russian and French origin, as well as domestically developed ones, against Pakistan.

India's Air Force has long relied on Russian-designed warplanes, including the Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighter jets. India has manufactured the Su-30MKI since 2004 under a Russian license. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has manufactured over 220 of these aircraft, which are considered the backbone of the Indian Air Force's fighter fleet.

READ MORE: India eyes fifth generation fighters: Can Russia's Su-57 make the cut?

Earlier this year, Russia also showcased its Sukhoi Su-57 Felon stealth fighter, which made its debut at India's largest defense show, Aero India. The US displayed its F-35 at the same event. Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport suggested that, given the existing collaboration between Moscow and New Delhi, India could quickly upgrade its current production lines of Russian-designed fighter jets to assemble fifth-generation warplanes.

Rosoboronexport previously stated that it had offered India the option of manufacturing export versions of the Su-57 domestically, if India agreed to import the jet. Experts, however, believe that India is more likely to pursue development of a fifth-generation fighter indigenously.