Defence Ministry Issues RFP to Three Private Firms for Indigenous AMCA Fighter Jet Project
India's Defence Ministry has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to three private consortia—Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro-Bharat Electronics Limited, and Bharat Forge-BEML—for the development of the indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Valued at around Rs 15,000 crore, the project includes building five prototypes at a new facility in Andhra Pradesh, with first flights expected by 2029 and deliveries by 2035. This marks a historic shift as state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is excluded, emphasizing private sector participation under the Aeronautical Development Agency's oversight to enhance India's self-reliance in advanced aerospace technology.