To widen the capability gap with the adversary, acceleration of the AMCA project is essential, how does it match with the F 35 and what is the progress for now outlined.
Even as India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) the highest approving authority for major defence projects approved the design and development of India’s fifth-generation fighter jet, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) on March 7, a comparison between the yet to be fully designed AMCA and the world’s leading fifth generation fighter the F 35 [Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II] has commenced. In fact, some of it even preceded the approval by the CCS.
But firstly, a look at what a Fifth Generation Fighter aircraft implies from the air combat point of view. In an article entitled, “Fifth Generation Air Combat Maintaining the Joint Force Advantage,” By General Jeffrey L. Harrigian, US AF Director, Joint Air Power Competence Centre (2019-2022) and Colonel Max M. Marosko III, US AF Deputy Director Air and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces some of the characteristics and advantages are outlined which can be obtained from other sources as well.
Briefly the “multi-spectral low observable (LO) design features (such as radar, infrared sensors, and visual situational awareness tools), along with self-protection and radar jamming capabilities,” contributing to delaying and denying enemy systems the ability to detect, track, and engage the aircraft.
A real time operational picture to the pilot which can be shared with others due to autonomous fusion is another major enhancement. Robust networks create this capability. Thus each operator in fact is turned into a mission commander.
The requirement to transit to the fifth generation combat aircraft is essential as in a modern, “Integrated Air Defence Systems (IADS) have created regions where fourth generation aircraft cannot effectively penetrate and hope to survive, threat aircraft, air-to-air missiles (AAMs), electronic attack (EA), and electronic protection systems have advanced beyond the capabilities of US fourth generation fighters and enhanced war time options”.
As per Dr Girish S. Deodhare, former director general, ADA, explains: “Stealth aircraft are required in the early stages of war to take out the enemy’s air defences. Once you destroy the air defences, other fighters like the LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) can take over.” However the F 35 as well as AMCA will be armed with air to ground weapons as well.
The trend of air forces across the world seeking 5th Generation aircraft is well known. According to the US Government Accountability Office, as of September 2023, US was fielding about 450 F-35 aircraft and at present, there are about 180 operational F-22 airframes with the US Air Force.
The demand for F 35 in varied versions is huge and the US defence industry is capitalizing on the same. China the near competitor of the United States is not far behind and hopes to field at least 200 fifth generation fighters soon.
There is thus a need for inducting the generation of fighters in the Indian Air Force at a time when the IAF is already in deficit of approximately 12 squadrons.
However, despite this urgency, the project to field a fifth generation fighter has moved at a very slow pace.
AMCA Known Conceptual Profile
Now that the AMCA is approved it is expected to be a 25-tonne twin-engine aircraft with an internal weapons bay and Diverterless Supersonic Intake developed in India for the first time. It will have an internal carriage of 1,500 kg of payload and 5,500 kg of external payload with 6,500 kg of internal fuel.
The single-seater, twin-engine fighter, the AMCA is expected to be 17.6m long, with a wingspan of 11.13m and a maximum takeoff weight of 25 tonnes. AMCA Mark-1 will be a fifth-generation fighter, the Mark-2 is expected to be sixth generation. The Mark-2 will also have indigenously manufactured engines in coordination with Safran instead of the Mark-1’s US made F414 from GE Aviation).
The AMCA will have a top speed of around 2,600kmph (Mach 2.15) and a combat range of 1,620km, equipped with a 23mm cannon and 14 hard points to carry weaponry weighing 6,500kg. The fuel capacity is 6,500kg. It is anticipated that the Brahmos-NG (next generation) air-to-ground missiles, Astra air-to-air missiles, anti-tank missiles, Rudram anti-radiation missiles, laser-guided bombs and precision munitions will arm the AMCA. Importantly a fifth generation fighter require millions of software codes to be worked out which it is unclear if the ADA has commenced work on the same.
The project’s initial development cost is estimated to be close to Rs15,000 crore which has now been approved by the Indian CCS.
US’s fifth-generation stealth fighters—the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II is expected to have cost around Rs1,86,150 crore and Rs1,06,875 crore, respectively, from the design to development stage. F-22, was developed in 20 years (1983-2003) and the F-35 in 16 years (1995-2011). Both were built by Lockheed Martin.
India is reportedly formed the core group to develop the stealth fighter in 2009 with five defence scientists—Ashish Kumar Ghosh, Krishna Rajendra Neeli, M.B. Angadi, A.K. Vinayagam and Fairoza Naushad. After four years, in 2013, the first feasible configuration was accepted by the IAF.
The IAF was exploring a joint venture with Russia for the fifth-generation stealth fighter but pulled out of the same in 2018 due to lack of transparency in sharing source codes amongst other issues.
Now that the cabinet approved the project for design and development the project is expected to gather speed. In the manufacturing stage, ADA will form the SPV with HAL and private players who will have a major share in the manufacturing.
Comparison AMCA and F 35
Point form comparison of AMCA with F35 aircraft by Jetline is as below, for information purposes only as the two cannot be matched at this stage given that the AMCA may see several iterations while the F 35 is a matured fighter already with many air forces in the world.
The AMCA is 57.9 feet long, while the F 35 is 51.4 feet long. The AMCA has a 36.6-foot wingspan, whereas the F35 has a 35-foot wingspan. The AMCA is 14.9 feet tall, while the F 35 is 14.4 feet tall. The AMCA has an empty weight of 12,000 kg, whereas the F 35 has a weight of 13,290 kg. AMCA has a gross weight of 18,000kg, whereas F 35 has a gross weight of 22,471kg. The AMCA has a fuel capacity of 6,500kg, while the F 35 has a capacity of 8,275kg.
The AMCA is propelled by two modified GE or Safran engines that will be installed in aircraft. The F35 is propelled by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan with a thrust of 125 kN dry and 191 kN afterburner.
The AMCA has a top speed of 2633 km/h, whereas the F 35 has a top speed of 2,000 km/h.
The AMCA has a range of 3,240 kilometres, whereas the F 35 has a range of up to 2,800 kilometres. The AMCA has a combat range of up to 1620 kilometres, while the F35 has a range of 1239 kilometres.
The AMCA can carry a wide range of weapons. The 14 hard points with a capacity of roughly 9 tonnes and a single 23mm cannon It carries S8 rocket pods, Astra mark 1, 2, 3, and NG CCM air-to-air missiles, and Brahmos NG, Sant, and Rudram air-to-ground missiles. It carries laser guided bombs, NG LGB, precision guided munitions, HSLD, DRDO SAAW, and DRDO glide bombs, among others.
F 35 has a single 25 mm cannon, four internal hard points, and six external hard points. It has a total weapons payload of 6,800 kg. It carries AIM 120, 9x, 132, and MBDA meteor air-to-air missiles. Surface-to-air missiles Joint air-to-ground missiles, AGM 88G, AGM 158, Spear 3, Air-to-surface and air-to-ship missiles. It can carry bombs such as Joint Direct Attack Munitions, Paveway series, AGM 154, and B61 mod.
The F 35 costs roughly $125 million, with the AMCA yet to be determined.
Conclusion
The present trajectory of development of the AMCA indicates a one-and-a-half-decade pathway from the conceptual stage to the project approval.
The IAF is presently far behind the curve in terms of a fifth generation fighter while in the 4.5 generation lot there is a deficit of approximately 12 squadrons. The IAF is said to be planning approximately five to six squadrons of the AMCA as a follow up of the LCA Mark 1 A and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk2, the latter already on the drawing board.
Developing a fighter for five to six squadrons may also not be an economically viable option while the export market for the same which will only fructify earliest by around 2030 which is expected to be crowded.
It is time that the IAF, DRDO, HAL and agencies involved put their shoulder to the task of developing the AMCA as well as the LCA Mark1A and 2 to accelerate the process of equipping the IAF with frontline fighters for the 42 squadrons and be able to sustain the same.