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HAL AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft)

2030 5TH GENERATION MODERN AIRCRAFT X-PLANE FUTURE FLIGHT

History

India plans to join other military powers - namely the US, Russia and (possibly) China - as the world's only operator of fifth-generation fighter jets. The program is the Advanced Medium Combat Fighter (AMCA), and its final form was revealed during the 2013 Airshow India. Like other Gen 5 models in development (Sukhoi PAK-FA T-50) or already in existence (Lockheed F-22 Lightning II), the AMCA will feature a twin-engine, single-seat layout and diamond floor plan with a Internal weapons bay.

Stealth functionality will be inherent. The aircraft will meet "multi-role" requirements, allowing it to handle air-to-air and air-to-ground operations with equal lethality. Many jobs and materials are developed and arranged in India to reduce reliance on outside help. AMCA represents an opportunity to acquire a 5th generation of indigenous Indian mounts - unlike the joint HAL-Sukhoi program, which aims to produce the "FGFA" aircraft detailed elsewhere on this page.

The multirole fighter is expected to be a two-seat variant of the Sukhoi T-50 being developed by Russia.

The Indian aviation industry continues to hope for a number of related developments that will play a key role in achieving AMCA. These include native fly-by-wire with triple redundancy and digital flight support, advanced cockpit displays, and advanced radar suppression/reduction components and structures.

Of course, high-performance Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars will feature prominently in the design programthe new standard for multipurpose aircraft radar systems.

The latest version of the AMCA envisions a design not dissimilar to the F-22, with a faceted fuselage. The single-seat cockpit is located behind a short nose cone assembly, with angled rectangular air intakes mounted to the sides and aft of the cockpit location. These ports suck in the twin turbofan engine assembly, which is located at the very rear of the aircraft, side by side. The main wings are set amidships and stern while finishing in a symmetrical trapezoidal shape.

The tail is mounted directly behind the main aircraft. The aircraft will have a dual vertical tail configuration. Its weapons bay will be mounted in the center of the fuselage, slightly forward of the midship.

Assuming AMCA will also make provisions for the deployment of external ordnance to expand its mission role, it's not out of scope -- albeit at the expense of some stealth coverage.

2 x GTRE GTX-35VS "Kaveri" NG turbofans expected to provide power with vectoring nozzles for extreme maneuverability. Total output thrust is 12,130 pounds dry and 20,230 pounds afterburner thrust. The engine is currently under development and is managed by the Gas Turbine Research Institute (GTRE).

Development of the AMCA is expected to continue until 2018, when an airworthy prototype can be ready. The development will undoubtedly be long and arduous for India's growing aviation industry, meaning the aircraft won't start operating until sometime around 2025 or even later.

The final product is intended to serve the Indian Air Force and Navy. Some delays in the program have been identified, mainly due to the long-term development of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program to produce the HAL fighter Tejas.

In February 2015, it was announced that the AMCA team had completed the AMCA design. He is expected to weigh between 45,000 and 55,000 pounds. A twin-engine configuration is expected, using General Electric engines (likely a modified F414 series), each with at least 24,700 pounds of thrust.

Development costs are now estimated at $3. $2 billion, although no government approval had been obtained as of that time.

March 2017 - AMCA's exterior design finalized, including twin-tail twin-engine configuration. All other aspects are typical of 5th generation fighter types such as the Lockheed F-22 Raptor. The first flight is planned for sometime in 2024, with the service scheduled to launch around 2030.