Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

In Context 

• India and France are close to concluding a deal, likely in the next couple of months, for the joint development of a 125 KN engine for the indigenous fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) under development
  • The collaboration is between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and French engine maker Safran.

About Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) 

• The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is currently working on the LCA-Mk2 along with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), as well as the AMCA and the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), for the Navy.
• The initial design of the AMCA started way back in 2009 and is envisaged as a twin engine stealth aircraft with internal weapons bay and Diverterless Supersonic Intake, which has been developed for the first time and for which the design is complete. 
• It will be a 25 tonne aircraft with an internal carriage of 1,500 kg of payload and 5,500 kg external payload with 6,500 kg of internal fuel.
• The AMCA will have stealth and non-stealth configurations.
• It would be developed in two phases — an AMCA MK1 with existing GE414 engine, and an AMCA Mk2 with an advanced, more powerful engine planned to be jointly developed

• The manufacturing and production of the aircraft is planned through a Special Purpose Vehicle, which will also involve private industry.

Other attempts of India 

• India has in the past unsuccessfully attempted to indigenously design and develop a jet engine for the LCA under the Kaveri programme sanctioned in 1989.
  •  The project, which ran for 30 years with an expenditure of ?2,035.56 crore, before being shelved, saw the development of nine full prototype engines and four core engines.
• The Shakti engine, which powers the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter and its later variants, is a joint development between Safran and HAL.

Source:TH