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Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Project

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arp2041

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Introduction

ADA will complete a feasibility study on the AMCA - a 19-20 ton category fifth generation fighter that will feature stealth including an internal weapon bay - by the end of FY 2011.

The AMCA is being designed as an affordable fighter with swing role capability to meet the requirements of the IAF post 2020.

The aircraft will incorporate advanced technologies like super maneuverability, super cruise, stealth, state of the art sensor suite with fusion.

Medium Fighter, F-35 Analog

PS Subramanyam, programme director at the ADA, told Flight magazine during Aero India 2011 that the AMCA will be a 20t aircraft with a 1,000km range, fitting between the 10t, 500km range of the Hindustan Aeronautics Tejas, and the 30t, 1,500km range of the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA).

The AMCA is being pitched as an analog of the F-35 Lightening, with the FGFA being an analog of F-22 Raptor.

The MCA will be a single seat fighter. A two seat version will be developed, but primarily as a trainer.

Sixth Generation Fighter Features
Speaking to The Hindu on November 25, 2011, ADA Chief P.S. Subramanyam said that since AMCA first flight was still seven years away it would be possible to incorporate some 6th generation combat aircraft features into it.

The AMCA would likely take 10 years before being ready for production as a replacement for MIG-29 and Mirage fighters.

Sixth Generation features include improved range, persistence, situational awareness, human-system integration and weapon fit to counter enemy anti-access/area-denial measures such as electronic attack, passive detection, cyber attack and directed energy weapons.

Payload

In February 2011, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik said the MCA will have a payload capability of more than five tons.

Air-Air Combat Capabilities
Long Range Combat

Low Radar Signature
Extended detection range and targeting
Supercruise
Supersonic weapon release

Short Range Combat

Low IR signature
Thrust Vectoring
High AOA controllability
All aspect missile warning system

Air-Ground Capabilities
Stealth Missions

Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD)
Precision strike
Special missions

Non Stealth Missions

Maritime strike

Sensor Suite
AESA radar
IRST

Weapon Suite
BVR Missile
Close Combat Missile
JDAM
PGM

Survivability
Stealth
Electronic Warfare

Features
Shaping for Low Observability (LO)
Internal Weapons
Signature Control
Integrated Modular Avionics
Situational Awareness
Data Fusion
Future Missiles
Stand-Off Weapons
Precision Weapons
Vehicle Management
Advanced Sensor
Net Centric warfare
Appropriate EW

Design Evolution

ADO earlier displayed a wind tunnel model of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) twin engine fighter concept at Aero India 2009.

The concept displayed at Aero India 2011 was not a wind tunnel model and differs from the 2009 design.

According to ADA, the MCA will have "serpentine-shaped" air intakes, internal weapons bays, and advanced radomes to increase its stealth features. Radar-absorbing composites and paints will supplement the design.

Powerplant

The AMCA is proposed to be powered by two Kaveri engines optimized for low observable characteristics.


Development Progress
PS Subramanyam, programme director at the ADA told Flight magazine during Aero India 2011:

"The MCA will be in flight trials by end of the decade, and it will be inducted by the middle of the next decade."

Speaking at Aero India 2009, M. Natarajan, DRDO chief and scientific adviser to the defense minister said:

"Even though we don't have a project as yet, we have started conceptual work on our own for the Medium Combat Aircraft. I will not call it Fifth Generation Aircraft but it is very close provided we are able to incorporate more stealth features."

The project was initiated to capitalize on the knowledge and expertise gained from the work put into the LCA project. The Air Force has shown interest in the project.

"I am happy to say some very preliminary discussions have started with the Air Force," Natarjan said. "They are showing considerable interest and this is linked to the kind of developments we could demonstrate in avionics, electronic warfare and our own radar development technology particularly for the AWE&C," he added.

Funding For Two Technology Demonstrators and Seven Prototypes
$2 billion funding sought for 2 technology demonstrators and seven prototypes with first flight by 2017

In November, 2010, Business Standard reported that ADA has sought a $2-billion (approximately Rs 9,060 crore) fund from the Indian government for the development of AMCA.

“We have just started working on this fifth-generation aircraft, for which we had already received sanctions to the tune of Rs 100 crore. The way the government is cooperating, I am able to say that we will receive the funding ($2 billion) in the next 18 months,” PS Subramanyam, program director (combat aircraft) and director of ADA, told Business Standard.

“The $2-billion fund will initially be utilized to develop two technology demonstrators and seven prototypes. The first flight test is expected to take place by 2017,” he said on the sidelines of the Aviation Conclave 2010 in Hyderabad.

According to Subramanyam, the AMCAs will bridge the gap between the Tejas and Su-30MKI class heavy fighters. With Russia and the US focusing on fighters in the 30-35 ton category, there was market space for a 20 ton aircraft.

“Though the AMCAs were primarily being designed to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force, we are contemplating rolling out a new variant for the Indian Navy as well,” he said,

Sixth Generation Fighter

Subramanyam also told the press that ADA is poised to commence research and development on asix-generation AMCA aircraft shortly.

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) - IDP Sentinel
 
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First lets complete 5th generation then can concentrate on 6th :)
And i hope this time developpment will be quick, since they have gained experience from building Su, tejas, Rafale etc!!
 
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First lets complete 5th generation then can concentrate on 6th :)
And i hope this time developpment will be quick, since they have gained experience from building Su, tejas, Rafale etc!!

what's the problem in looking towards long term future. It's good that they are thinking a generation ahead from our enemies :tup:
 
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10 years ........ ????? Hope they don't miss timeline atleast in this project.
Plz select the dam proven engine for this project. Don't try to develope new one
 
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what's the problem in looking towards long term future. It's good that they are thinking a generation ahead from our enemies :tup:

Actually they are "dreaming" 2 generations ahead of what they are able to develop now, besides that these "sixt gen features" will be even available on modern 4th gen fighters like Rafale or EF soon (situational awareness, human-system integration, electronic attack, passive detection).
Anybody can talk big in front of cameras, but they now should present at least something in return, before jumping on the next ambitous project!
 
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what's the problem in looking towards long term future. It's good that they are thinking a generation ahead from our enemies :tup:

We should look into the future deep, when we have the basic blocks placed :)
And until that , we should build those basics block!! and that includes, building an more powerfull, less smoke Kaveri engine and a powerfull AESA plus a jamming radar !!
As for now what are the criterias fa 6th gen/?
 
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First lets complete 5th generation then can concentrate on 6th :)
And i hope this time developpment will be quick, since they have gained experience from building Su, tejas, Rafale etc!!

O bhai phalay apna LCA to banalo phir agay baat kar na 5th or 6th generation ki....
 
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i have simply no doubt the first flight will happen by 2017. but will it be inducted on time is the main question?? infact in history no major fighter has been inducted on time. ef, tejas and j10 took close to 18 yrs same with most fighters. when ever a country moves from one gen to another its always messed up. i think india should build another 4.5 -5 gen project along with 5th gen. india still lags some basic 4.5 gen techs like aesa radar and 3d thrust vectoring.

bhai pehle ek dhang ki car to bna lo phir advice Dena.

hahhal true said i was just gonaa say the same. khud car nahi bana sakte and trying to advise us what to build :rofl:
 
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As for now what are the criterias fa 6th gen/?

Not even 5th gen criterias are fully acknowledged see the beef between EF and F35 manufacturers, only the US are currently developing some more advanced techs and capabilities for fighters.
The best point to understand that ADA/DRDO are completely mistaken about AMCA is the comparison to F35, because appart from beeing medium class as well, AMCA shares no commonality to the earlier. Not to mention than FGFA will replace Mig 29 and Mirage fighters in numbers. It would be way more logical if they develop a 5th gen fighter focused mainly on carrier operations and further develop that version later with 6th techs as upgrades, to replace MKIs by 2030, because that is the timeframe when IAF really needs a new fighter.
 
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Advanced stealth is going to be the key in AMCA.... and it's good if they start building the building the know-how right away.
 
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currently only the US have the sixth generation program in sight. Below is a good article on sixth generation planes:

The US Navy has launched mid-April an official RFI for the F/A-XX carrier-based strike fighter. The F/A-XX is intended to replace both F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft currently in service in the US Navy by the years 2030ies.

The official RFI for the sixth generation fighter, issued by the Department of the Navy Naval Air Systems Command Aircraft Division, goes as follow:

The Director for Air Warfare (OPNAV N98) has requested NAVAIR Warfare Analysis and Integration Department (AIR-4.10) to conduct trade space refinement as a precursor to an analysis of alternatives for candidate strike fighter aircraft replacements for the FA-18E/F and EA-18G.

CAPABILITY DESCRIPTION:
The intent of this research is to solicit Industry inputs on candidate solutions for CVN based aircraft to provide multi-role capability in an A2AD operational environment. Primary missions include, but are notlimited to, air warfare (AW), strike warfare (STW), surface warfare (SUW), and close air support (CAS). Also consider the ability of your concept to provide other capabilities currently provided by strike fighteraircraft, such as organic air-to-air refueling (AAR), Tactical Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA), and airborne electronic attack (AEA). The trade space refinement activity will characterize a broad trade space, to include unmanned, optionally manned and manned aircraft. System attributes and system capabilities will be considered in the context of cost and affordability. Concepts that are derived from legacy aircraft, “clean sheet” new design aircraft, as well as innovative technology concepts specifically tailored for the operational context are all relevant. Please provide a separate whitepaper for each technology concept or family of related and complementary technology concepts; multiple white papers may be provided.

As a top level summary of some of the required system capabilities, the air vehicle should be capable of addressing the following needs:

1.Capable of operating from CVN 68 and CVN 78 class aircraft carriers, as part of the Carrier AirWing (CVW), with minimal impact on the ship configuration and the operations of the rest of theCVW.

2.This aircraft will be a complementary CVW asset to the F-35C and an unmanned persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) vehicle with precision strike capability.

3.The ability to conduct persistent, penetrating operations in an A2AD operational environment.

4.The ability for an IOC in the 2030 timeframe. If a spiral approach to incorporation of systems and/or technology to achieve full operational capability is employed, provide the timeline toachieve full capability.

US Navy launches official Request for Information (RFI) for F/A-XX strike fighter
 
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