Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
Wind tunnel testing model of MCA
Role	Stealth air superiority and multirole fighter
National origin	India
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Designer	Aeronautical Development Agency
First flight	2017
Introduction	2020
Status	Under evaluation[1] / planned induction by 2020[2]
Primary users	Indian Air Force Indian Navy

The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), formerly known as the Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA), is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter being developed by India. It will complement the HAL Tejas, the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA, the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the as yet undecided MRCA in the Indian Air Force. The main purpose of this aircraft is to replace the aging SEPECAT Jaguar and MiG-27. Unofficial design work on the MCA has been started.^[1] A naval version is confirmed as Indian Navy also contributed to the funding.

Development

In August 2006, India's then defence minister Pranab Mukherjee announced in Parliament that the government is evaluating experiences gained from the Tejas programme for the MCA.^[3]

In October 2008, the Indian Air Force asked the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to prepare a detailed project report on the development of a Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA) incorporating stealth features.^[4]

In February 2009, ADA director P.S Subramanyam said at a Aero-India 2009 seminar, that they are working closely with Indian Air Force to develop a Medium Combat Aircraft. He added that according to the specification provided by the Indian Air Force, it would likely be a twenty ton aircraft powered by two GTX Kaveri engines.^[5]

In April 2010, the Indian Air Force issued the Air Staff requirements (ASR) for the AMCA which placed the aircraft in the twenty five ton category.^[6]

Design

The AMCA will be designed with a very small radar cross-section and will also feature serpentine shaped air-intakes, internal weapons and the use of composites and other materials.^[7]

It will be a twin-engined design using the GTX Kaveri engine with thrust vectoring with the possibility of giving the aircraft supercruise capabilities.^[3] A wind-tunnel testing model of the MCA airframe was seen at Aero-India 2009.^[8]

As well as advanced sensors the aircraft will be equipped with missiles like DRDO Astra and other advanced missiles, stand-off weapons and precision weapons.^[7] The aircraft will have the capability to deploy Precision Guided Munitions. The aircraft will feature Extended detection range and targeting range with the ability to release weapons at supersonic speeds. The aircraft's avionics suite will include AESA radar IRST and appropriate Electronic warfare systems and all aspect missile warning suite.^[9]

As of August 2011, the aircraft is in its preliminary design phase. The final design is expected to be shown to the air force by 2012, after which full scale development on the aircraft may start.^[10]

Potential customers

• Indian Air Force
• Indian Navy

See also

Aviation portal

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Sukhoi/HAL FGFA
• Mitsubishi ATD-X
• F-35 Lightning II
• Chengdu J-20
• JF-17 Thunder
  

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Neelam Matthews. "India Develops Requirements For AMCA". Aviation Week. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=india&id=news/awx/2010/04/21/awx_04_21_2010_p0-221350.xml&headline=India%20Develops%20Requirements%20For%20AMCA. 
2. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b} http://www.india-defence.com/specifications/fighters/58
4. ^ "India reveals plan to develop indigenous medium fighter". http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/10/06/316782/india-reveals-plan-to-develop-indigenous-medium-fighter.html. 
5. ^ "After LCA it’s Medium Combat Aircraft". Hindu.com. 2009-02-05. http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/05/stories/2009020559830400.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-17. 
6. ^ http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?id=news/awx/2010/04/21/awx_04_21_2010_p0-221350.xml&topicName=India
7. ^ ^{a b} "Medium Combat Aircraft". MCA Handouts at AI-09. Aeronautical Development Agency. 2009-02-13. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/media/AeroIndia2009/krishG/Picture+128.jpg.html. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
8. ^ "The Hindu News Update Service". Hindu.com. 2009-02-13. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200902131322.htm. Retrieved 2010-10-21. 
9. ^ Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) - a knol by Vijainder K Thakur
10. ^ Surya Gangadharan (2011-08-07). "India to build its own stealth fighter jet". IBNlive.com. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-to-build-its-own-stealth-fighter-jet/173785-3.html. Retrieved 2011-08-08. 

External links

• DRDO, HAL, IAF Framing Specifications for MCA