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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
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