Overview
- Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said the AMCA procurement is active and a request for proposal will go soon to shortlisted Indian private companies able to build prototypes and set up series production.
- The government wants competing production lines to cut supply chain risk, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is not in the prototype phase but could still join when full-rate production begins.
- Officials described AMCA as India’s indigenous fifth‑generation fighter effort led by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency, with bidding limited to firms owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens.
- India has reached out to two ongoing international sixth‑generation fighter programs to explore partnership options, which officials framed as interest rather than a finalized deal.
- DRDO chief Samir V Kamat said the Pralaye short‑range ballistic missile is in final testing and reported scramjet propulsion for more than 1,000 seconds as hypersonic glide trials near, while contracts for fighters, refuellers and AWACS are targeted within about a year.