The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday issued an expression of interest (EOI) for the development of India’s 5.5-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Reputed Indian aerospace and defence companies with manufacturing capabilities will be shortlisted for this ambitious project.

According to a document uploaded on the DRDO website, ADA, as the lead programmer, aims for the contract’s duration — encompassing development, prototyping, flight testing and certification — not to exceed eight years from the effective date of the tender award. The deadline for EOI submissions is August 16, 2025.

As previously announced by the government, the EOI specifies that applicants can be a single company, a joint venture, or a consortium, all of whom must comply with applicable Indian laws and regulations. The EOI document states, “Reputed Indian companies experienced in the aerospace and defence sector with the capability to absorb the design of the AMCA and possessing adequate experience in development, engineering, manufacturing, equipping, integration, testing, quality management and customer support will be shortlisted.”

A pre-EOI meeting will be hosted by ADA in the first week of July to address any clarifications regarding the EOI. DRDO sources said that they are open to hearing from the industry before crystalising the AMCA development module.

GE-414 engines

The fifth-generation aircraft will be powered by GE-414 engines which will be produced in India under the GE licence. The negotiations are going on between the GE and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to complete the deal for manufacturing of the fighter jet engine here.

In case, the government is able to develop indigenous engine in times ahead through participation of a foreign original manufacturer, the AMCA will be retrofitted with them, said DRDO sources.

businessline had previously reported on June 1 that ADA was expected to issue this EOI, aiming to leverage India’s growing indigenous aerospace ecosystem, which is already integrated into global supply chains.

Several Indian companies, including Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), L&T, Mahindra Aerospace, Dynamatic Technologies, Bharat Forge, Sansera Engineering, Azad Engineering, Aequs, and Godrej Aerospace, currently supply world-class parts, systems, sub-systems, and components to leading aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. Furthermore, international aerospace giants such as Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, and Collins Aerospace are expanding their sourcing from India.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), traditionally a dominant player in fighter aircraft manufacturing, is also in the process of forming a consortium to bid for the AMCA project, marking the end of its previous monopoly in this segment. HAL is currently evaluating 24 responses from indigenous companies to form this consortium, which will focus on developing five prototypes of the stealth AMCA. businessline previously reported that HAL will shortlist partners based on their aerospace and defence experience and financial strength, with equity stakes determined by investment.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on May 26, approved the AMCA’s production through maiden private participation. This strategic move aims to address long-standing capacity deficiencies in the Indian Air Force, which Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has publicly highlighted on numerous occasions.

Published on June 18, 2025