HAL, L&T, BEL in the race: Who will build India’s Rs 15,000 crore stealth fighter AMCA?

Big guns submit bids to partner DRDO in designing India’s fifth-gen fighter jet, AMCA, set for induction by 2034-35

India’s ambitious plan to field its own fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), has entered a crucial phase. Multiple Indian defence majors, along with partner companies, have submitted bids to tie up with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the design and development of the aircraft, according to ANI.

September 30 marked the deadline for responses to the Expression of Interest (EoI) floated by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the DRDO arm overseeing the AMCA programme.

Who’s in the race

The Rs 15,000 crore design and development project has attracted bids from the biggest names in Indian defence and aerospace:

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the country’s largest aerospace player.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which has tied up with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), partnering with private sector firms.

Officials told ANI that the bids will now be scrutinised by a Committee led by former BrahMos Aerospace chief A Sivathanu Pillai, which will evaluate and submit recommendations to the Defence Ministry.

Defence Ministry’s hands-on role

The AMCA project has been closely monitored at the highest levels. Ever since it was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security last year, the Defence Ministry has pushed to keep it on track. Sources told ANI that Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane has been working with DRDO and ADA to ensure timelines are met and processes don’t stall.

What comes next

The partner selected in this phase will not just co-develop the fighter but may also be tapped as the production partner when the aircraft enters mass manufacturing.

Timeline: The first AMCA jets are expected to roll out for induction into the Indian Air Force by 2034-35.
Scale: At least 125 aircraft are planned, enough to form around seven squadrons.
Value: The production project is estimated to be worth nearly Rs 2 lakh crore.

Why the AMCA matters

The AMCA is India’s leap into the league of nations developing fifth-generation stealth fighters, a field dominated by the US, Russia and China. The programme aims to equip the IAF with a platform that combines stealth, advanced avionics, supercruise capability and weapons flexibility, critical for future warfare.

For Indian industry, the project is just as transformative: it promises long-term orders, advanced technology partnerships, and a stronger domestic ecosystem for aerospace manufacturing.