In a significant push towards enhancing India’s indigenous defence capabilities, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the “execution model” to implement a mega project to develop a fifth-generation deep penetration advanced medium combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is set to execute the programme through Industry partnership.

Taking to X, the Defence Ministry wrote, “Rajnath Singh has approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model. Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is set to execute the programme through Industry partnership.”

The step was further termed important towards harnessing the indigenous expertise, capability and capacity to develop the AMCA prototype, which will be a major milestone towards Aatmanirbharta in the aerospace sector.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had given in-principle approval to the fighter jet programme last year.