5th Generation Fighter Aircraft of India

The only 5th generation fighter aircraft India has is its AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) which is being designed and manufactured by DRDO (Defence Research and Developmental Organisation) and HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited).

The AMCA is currently neither in the market nor available for the Indian Air Force. Currently, it is being developed at the said organisations including some other Indian private companies. It is said to be having abilities like stealth technology, superior dogfight capability and will be a multirole fighter plane.

In this article let us understand this 5th generation fighter plane which is the only 5th generation aircraft that India is developing indigenously.

Overview of AMCA

The AMCA is supposed to have two jet engines with afterburners which will be controlled by a single pilot in the cockpit. Currently, there have been two versions declared of this AMCA. Mark 1 and mark 2. It is said that mark 2 will be having 6th generation capabilities and is currently in research and design. The AMCA is said to replace the Sukhoi SU-30MKI, which has its dominion in dogfights, electronic warfare, ground strike missions, and suppressing targets will be done by AMCA now.

In stealth technology similar to Rafale it is also designed to have a low radar cross-section to find it difficult for other aircraft to spot this aircraft. Moreover, AMCA will be having a unique body design which adds benefit to its stealth mode. Moreover, it will be a supersonic supercruise fighter plane.

Currently, in Feb 2019, the designers have started designing the detailed design of AMCA mark 1 after completing its preliminary phase. In Aero India 2019, a basic model was showcased and it is said that its first flight will be done during the years 2024-25, subsequently, its serial production would be starting from the year 2030. The government also is expected to provide its approval in 2022.

Stealth Body

The AMCA is said to have a stealth body including inherent radar stealth which can be achieved through serrations on edge alignment, low intercepting radars equipped in it and antennas in its bodies. Moreover, it has a supersonic inlet in its body which acts as a diverterless inlet that is designed with spine ducts. And along with the aircraft is said to have an internal warfare area or bay and the complete airframe of the aircraft is said to be manufactured using composites.

Propulsion of AMCA

AMCA has twin engines that are turbofan engines with afterburners for high thrust as needed. These engines are located on both the sides of the fuselage and the fuselage is designed to have a diverterless supersonic inlet that allows a high amount of air to be sucked into the engine without any diversions. The engine of the AMCA is a GE F414 turbofan engine with an afterburner. It is also said that its upcoming version the Mark 2 will be having its engines developed indigenously by joint ventures providing 110 KN thrust. Initially, for AMCA, the Kaveri engine was chosen. However, this didn’t go as per the plan as the Kaveri engine program was closed due to its low performance.

Warfare Capabilities of AMCA

The AMCA has a complete internal warfare keeping area also called an internal weapons bay. It is designed to carry the missiles, and bombs in a stealth mode which when needed can be deployed and armed. Whereas, for the missions that do not require the stealth mode, AMCA also has hardpoints under its wing-like other fighter planes to carry the arms. Moreover, the AMCA is also expected to have directed energy weapons in it, which makes it one of a kind.

Avionics and Sensors

The AMCA has an advanced and high-tech electronic warfare system onboard which works in combination with the sensors equipped with it. The sensors are using artificial intelligence to combine the data of all the sensors around and provide the pilot with a high awareness of the situation around the aircraft. It is also said to have a health monitoring system that also functions using the fusion of sensors onboard using AI technology. Moreover, for better and fast computation of this much data, it is equipped with fast processors and high-tech smart sub-systems. Those processors work on a distributed processing mechanism.

Conclusion

To sum up, the only 5th generation aircraft India is currently building indigenously is the AMCA. The current version of AMCA is Mark 1, there is also said that it would be having its upcoming version which will be 6th generation aircraft. The fighter plane is said to have stealth technology along with multi-role abilities during the requirement. As of 2019, the detailed design of AMCA has been started and its first flight is said to be done during 2024-25. A model of the AMCA was also showcased during the Aero India 2019.