HAL Stake: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has asked private Indian companies to join hands in building the country’s futuristic fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The plan is to form a joint venture where HAL will work with four private firms to manufacture different parts of the stealth jet, promoting self-reliance.
HAL will hold 50% ownership in the joint venture, while the four private companies will each get 12.5%. This way, HAL keeps control over the project but shares the work with private players who have the right skills. The AMCA is a high-tech stealth fighter being developed by India’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and DRDO. Since it is a complex machine, HAL wants to divide the manufacturing into different sections, called “work packages,” and assign each to a private company.
DRDO Partners With IIT Guwahati’s Da Spatio for AI-Powered Border Patrol Robots
What Each Company Will Build
- Work Package-1: The front part of the jet, including the cockpit and landing gear
- Work Package-2: The middle section, air intake, and ailerons (parts that help the jet turn)
- Work Package-3: The rear section, horizontal tail, and flaps (used during take-off and landing)
- Work Package-4: The wings and the vertical tail
Each company will handle everything for their part, from designing tools to buying materials, building, and assembling. HAL will make sure all the pieces fit together perfectly.
The plan is to start making the AMCA in 2035. For the first few years (2035-36 to 2038-39), the team will produce 9 jets every year. After that, from 2039-40 to 2046-47, they will make 10 jets each year. In total, India wants to build 126 of these stealth fighters. This number could change based on what the Indian Air Force (IAF) needs.
According to IDRW, the IAF has only 31 squadrons instead of the required 42. To fix this, they want 5 to 7 new squadrons of AMCA jets, around 90 to 126 aircraft.
India to Conduct Mega Naval Exercise with African Nations Under Modi’s MAHASAGAR Vision
Why This Is a Big Deal
The AMCA is India’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter. It will be harder for enemy radars to detect, fly faster without afterburners (called “supercruise”), and have advanced technology. The first test flight is expected in 2028-29, and the jet should enter service by 2035.HAL has set a deadline of May 7, 2025, for private companies to apply. The chosen firms must have experience in aerospace, defense manufacturing, and handling big projects. Some likely candidates are Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Forge, Larsen & Toubro, and VEM Technologies, all of whom have worked with HAL or DRDO before.
Building a stealth fighter is not easy. Each work package has tough requirements. For example, the front section must fit the radar and cockpit perfectly, while the wings must be shaped precisely for stealth. The private companies will have to prove they can handle these challenges before being selected.
