No F-35 or Su-57 for IAF? Desi Stealth Jet Changes the Game
Date: May 28, 2025
By: Bharat Global Time Defence Bureau
Location: Bengaluru / New Delhi
In a move that’s sending shockwaves through Washington and Moscow alike, India has officially confirmed that it is moving forward with the indigenous AMCA stealth fighter program, shutting the door—for now—on buying either the American F-35 or Russian Su-57 for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
This decision signals a massive vote of confidence in Indian defence engineering—and a clear message to the world: India doesn’t want hand-me-down fifth-gen fighters. It’s building its own.
What is AMCA?
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is India’s first fully indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter, designed to meet the IAF’s future air superiority and deep strike requirements.
- Developer: DRDO + HAL + Private Sector
- First flight: Expected by 2028
- Stealth Features: Internal weapons bay, radar-absorbing materials, S-duct air intakes
- Multirole Capabilities: Air-to-air, air-to-ground, electronic warfare
- Thrust Class: 110–125 kN twin-engine setup (with future Indian engine plans)
No F-35. No Su-57. Why?
India had long been on the sidelines of the F-35 program and was previously burned by the Su-57 (FGFA) deal with Russia. But now, the IAF is done waiting for foreign stealth jets.
Here’s why:
F-35: Too Political, Too Controlled
- Comes with heavy operational restrictions and US monitoring systems
- No full tech transfer—India would be a user, not a partner
- Costly to maintain and integrate into India’s current systems
Su-57: Still Immature
- Russia’s Su-57 lacks a fully stealthy design compared to Western peers
- Engine and radar tech not proven for true 5th-gen performance
- Prior FGFA project with HAL collapsed due to trust and tech-sharing issues
AMCA: India’s Strategic Bet
India isn’t just chasing stealth tech for vanity. AMCA represents:
- Strategic autonomy in next-gen warfare
- A direct answer to China’s J-20 Mighty Dragon
- A long-term vision to build a 5th-gen+ aircraft ecosystem (engines, sensors, avionics)
Sources from DRDO indicate that the AMCA Mk1 will fly with GE-F414 engines initially, but the Mk2 version is already planned to feature the upcoming Indian Kaveri 2.0 engine, under development by GTRE with foreign consultation.
Tech Transfer and Private Sector Power
Unlike older HAL projects, the AMCA will have massive involvement from private players, including:
- Tata Advanced Systems (airframe)
- Bharat Electronics Ltd. (EW systems)
- L&T, Data Patterns (sensor suites and avionics)
This is also the first Indian combat jet to be built using Digital Twin and AI-driven design tools from Day 1.
What the IAF Says
An IAF official, under condition of anonymity, told Bharat Global Time:
“We’re not interested in F-35 ‘lite’ or Su-57 ‘half-stealth’. AMCA is designed for India, by India, with our unique threat matrix in mind.”
This suggests a long-term force structure built around:
- Tejas Mk1A & Mk2 for frontline missions
- Rafales for strike dominance
- AMCA as the spearhead of future stealth operations
Final Word
The decision to shun foreign 5th-gen jets isn’t a snub—it’s a signal of India’s aerospace maturity. For decades, India bought jets. Now, it builds them.
With AMCA, India isn’t just joining the stealth club. It’s building the clubroom
