By Chaitali Bag
India stands at the cusp of a defining moment in its military history, surging ahead with bold ambition to field 5th-generation fighter jets at the core of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The world’s strategic climate is evolving at a breakneck pace, with air superiority becoming a linchpin of national defence. No longer is it sufficient to rest upon ageing fleets—today’s adversaries are harnessing agility, stealth, and cutting-edge technology to take the high ground, both literally and figuratively. For India, the drive to advance its aerial might, by blending indigenous programs like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) with smart foreign acquisitions, is not just a pragmatic necessity; it’s a celebration of self-reliant aspiration, strategic vision, and national resilience.
Operation Sindoor: A Wake-Up Call for Modern Air Power
Operation Sindoor was not merely another exercise; it was a stark demonstration of the imperative for modern air power. Rapid intelligence, precision strikes, seamless integration of aerial assets—these are the currencies of modern conflict. As threats emanate from a complex neighbourhood, with both Pakistan and China hustling to upgrade their air fleets with fifth-generation technology, India’s need to leap into the next-generation fighter club becomes undeniable. This operation brought into sharp relief the need for jets that can not only penetrate and survive hostile airspace but also dominate it—jets equipped with stealth, supercruise, electronic warfare, and data-fused sensors.
India’s AMCA program is the nation’s boldest step yet toward the indigenous mastery of fifth-generation combat jets. Targeting prototypes by 2028 and squadron service by 2035, the AMCA represents a technological and strategic quantum leap. The government’s substantial investment in the program illustrates a clear intent to nurture and harness the scientific prowess of Indian engineers and private industry. The lessons of history—be it the HF-24 Marut or the arduous journey of LCA Tejas—remind us that indigenous fighter development has always been fraught with challenges in terms of technology, timelines, and industrial collaboration. Yet, these stories are also of resilience, learning, and eventual triumph.
To succeed, India must turbocharge private participation, catalyze R&D, and create a vibrant, self-sustaining defence ecosystem. The technological chasm with America’s F-35, China’s J-20, and Russia’s Su-57 can be bridged only through a relentless focus on homegrown innovation—and perhaps through clever, symbiotic technology partnerships abroad. The AMCA, if delivered as promised, will stand as the flagbearer of India’s quest for defence self-reliance and its rightful claim to the status of a military technology powerhouse.
The AMCA Program: A Leap Towards India’s Defence Self-Reliance
India stands at the precipice of a new era in defence innovation, and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program is at the heart of this transformation. Enthusiasm runs high across strategic circles, for the AMCA is not just another fighter jet project—it is a bold assertion of India’s quest for military self-reliance, shaping the country’s defence strategy for decades to come.
At the core of the AMCA program is the vision of air superiority and credible deterrence. As a fifth-generation, stealth, multi-role fighter equipped with advanced avionics, sensors, and a formidable weapons suite, the AMCA will future-proof the Indian Air Force (IAF) against emerging regional threats. Neighbours like China and Pakistan are rapidly fielding or developing state-of-the-art jets, and the AMCA is India’s powerful answer—one that offers strategic autonomy. By developing such cutting-edge technology domestically, India seizes control over how, when, and where these aircraft are deployed, upgraded, or integrated into its arsenal, without the constraints or vulnerabilities of foreign dependence.
But the impact goes far beyond the skies. The AMCA program is a flagship of the “Make in India” initiative, turbocharging the country’s indigenous aerospace and defence ecosystem. Every rivet, circuit, and software line signals progress in domestic R&D, technology transfer, and skill development. This surge in technical expertise is not confined to defence; it radiates into civilian industries, catalyzing broader economic development and innovation. As Indian engineers and scientists grapple with the demanding challenges of fifth-generation aircraft design, they cultivate capabilities that can serve national interests across sectors.
Modernizing India’s fighter fleet is an urgent necessity. Much of the current inventory—MiG-21s, Jaguars, and other ageing platforms—is nearing retirement, and replacement is non-negotiable for operational readiness. The AMCA is set to bridge capability gaps, especially as delays in foreign procurements and evolving threats loom large. With domestic production, India can maintain and upgrade its air combat capabilities on its terms, sustaining the sharp edge required for defence preparedness.
The AMCA’s significance also extends to the international stage. A successful, indigenous fifth-generation jet positions India as a potential global defence exporter, strengthening diplomatic partnerships and boosting its influence. Owning both the design and manufacturing process also immunizes India against the uncertainties and vulnerabilities of international export controls, embargoes, or geopolitical pressures.
Of course, the path ahead is not without its share of challenges. Developing advanced stealth fighters is a technological Everest, fraught with the risks of technical setbacks and cost overruns. Managing these risks will require disciplined project management and sustained investment. Additionally, until the AMCA is fully operational—likely in the early 2030s—India may need stopgap solutions through foreign acquisitions or leasing, to ensure that its combat readiness is not compromised in the interim.
The Merciless Race: Timely Foreign Acquisitions
While indigenous dreams are being meticulously crafted in design studios and wind tunnels, operational imperatives brook no delay. Today, the IAF faces a glaring shortfall in squadron strength, exacerbated by the slow induction rate of new jets and the continual phasing out of old MiGs. The geostrategic reality is clear: China’s PLAAF already deploys the mighty J-20 and is ramping up numbers, while Pakistan could soon bring in Chinese fifth-generation fighters. In response, India cannot afford indecision or delay.
Thus, the procurement of 4.5- and 5th-generation jets from abroad becomes indispensable for plugging immediate capability gaps. The case for fighters like the Rafale F4—offering sophisticated avionics, stand-off weapons, and operational reliability—is compelling. Meanwhile, the debate over F-35 vs. Su-57 acquisition is nuanced. The F-35 offers proven combat effectiveness, unmatched stealth, and unified logistics within a Western ecosystem, but comes wrapped in political and budgetary intricacies. On the other side, the Su-57 or licensed Su-35S production—especially if facilitated by Russia through local assembly—presents a cost-effective, geopolitically open alternative, albeit at the risk of technology transfer limitations and uncertain performance benchmarks.
Bridging the Technological Divide
Developing fifth-generation stealth fighters is one of the most complex engineering feats ever attempted by humankind. The United States took decades and billions of dollars to perfect the F-22 and F-35 programs. India cannot afford such protracted timelines. The challenge lies not just in airframe design but in mastering stealth coatings, advanced radar cross-section reduction, next-generation engines, and seamless sensor fusion. This underlines why strategic, temporary acquisitions are crucial—they buy time for indigenous efforts while maintaining deterrence.
Furthermore, modern combat is as much about firepower at a distance as it is about dogfights. Drones, loitering munitions, standoff weapons, and advanced missiles are rewriting the rules. Operations like Op Sindoor demonstrated India’s ability to disrupt adversary airfields with pinpoint strikes, leveraging advanced technology far beyond the cockpit.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: Making Self-Reliance Real
The pursuit of self-reliance, enshrined in the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, finds its true test in advanced fighter aviation. The establishment of local assembly lines, robust supply chains, and indigenous technology ecosystems is not a checkbox—they are lifelines to a future where India’s strategic autonomy is sacrosanct. The involvement of private sector champions, robust oversight, and international technology partnerships can provide the right momentum. Vigilance, timely execution, and unwavering political and industrial resolve will decide whether indigenous dreams become operational reality or yet another chapter of delays.
Complementary Power: Manned, Unmanned & Stand-off
Looking ahead, India’s defence planners must think in seamless integration terms, blending manned fighters, UCAVs, long-range missiles, and stand-off assets into a lethal, networked force. The Ukraine conflict has amply demonstrated that drones and innovative warfighting concepts can level the playing field against numerically superior foes. India’s defence modernization must go beyond mere quantity and focus on leveraging each element of its arsenal for maximum effect.
India’s Pathways to Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft
As of mid-2025, India is at a pivotal juncture in its quest to acquire fifth-generation fighter jets, essential for safeguarding national security and maintaining regional technological parity. The options before India encompass indigenous development, as well as the possibilities of imports or international collaborations. Each pathway presents its unique advantages and challenges.
At the forefront of India’s indigenous efforts is the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The AMCA represents India’s ambition for technological self-reliance, aiming to integrate features such as stealth, supercruise, advanced avionics, internal weapons bays, and AI-assisted systems. By mid-2025, the project will have reached the advanced design and pre-prototype phase, with a first flight expected late in the decade. Although the AMCA is viewed as India’s primary hope for a homegrown fifth-generation stealth fighter, the journey to full operational capability involves technical, financial, and organizational challenges.
In parallel, India continues to assess foreign fifth-generation platforms through potential imports or collaborations. The American F-35 Lightning II stands out for its operational maturity and battlefield pedigree, yet it has not been officially offered to India. The high cost, coupled with restrictions on technology transfer and strategic concerns, makes this option complex and uncertain. The Russian Su-57 ‘Felon’ is another significant contender. While Russia has proposed co-production and technology sharing, past efforts such as the FGFA project were hindered by disagreements on costs, timelines, and the readiness of Russian technology. Recent overtures from Turkey regarding possible collaboration on the TF-X (KAAN) project, though intriguing, remain speculative due to the program’s nascent stage. Similarly, South Korea’s KF-21 ‘Boramae’ offers limited interim potential; as a 4.5-generation aircraft with aspirations toward fifth-generation capabilities in future variants, it currently falls short of India’s requirements. Any engagement with China’s FC-31/J-31 is effectively precluded by prevailing strategic and geopolitical tensions.
Looking ahead, India is likely to monitor global projects, such as Japan’s F-X, the UK-led Tempest, and France’s SCAF/NGF, though direct participation in these initiatives appears improbable in the near term.
The Road Ahead: A Tricolour in the Skies
As the race for fifth-generation airpower accelerates, India’s decisions today will shape its strategic destiny for decades to come. The task is not an either-or between indigenous innovation or savvy imports—it is about a balanced, results-driven approach. Accelerate AMCA, absorb technology from partners, and create the industrial and scientific backbone to sustain tomorrow’s innovations. Procure foreign fighters to keep the deterrent sharp and credible while serving as technological benchmarks to fuel our engineers’ ambitions.
There has never been a more thrilling moment for Indian defence technology. With urgency, vision, and confidence, India can transform its Air Force into a force of pride, efficiency, and deterrence—a guardian worthy of the nation’s ambitions and the world’s respect. The future of India’s skies is being forged now. It is a future grounded in learning, built on resilience, and aimed unflinchingly at excellence. The nation awaits the day when India’s AMCA, born of homegrown ingenuity, soars above the subcontinent, a symbol not just of military might, but of a billion dreams ascending together.
