Indian Advanced Medum Combat Aircraft MCA

India has embarked upon an ambitious project to indigenously design and develop a fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) by 2017.

The government released Rs. 100 crore last month to the Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which will spearhead the project, to prepare feasibility studies in 18 months. The ADA is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Defence.

Disclosing this to reporters here on Saturday, ADA Director and Programme Director (Combat Aircraft) P.S. Subramanyam said AMCA, when developed and produced, would probably be the first medium combat aircraft with 20 tonne weight in the world. Similar aircraft being developed by the United States and Russia are in the range of 30 to 35 tonnes.

ADA seeks $2 bn for advanced medium combat aircraft

the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), an autonomous body under the department of defence research and development, Ministry of Defence, is seeking a $2-billion (approximately Rs 9,060 crore) fund for the development of the advanced medium combat aircraft (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, programme director (combat aircraft) and director of ADA, told Business Standard.

The AMCA will be designed with a small radar cross-section and will feature internal weapons and advanced electronic systems. The twin-engined, stealth-multirole fighter will be equipped with missiles like the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s Astra, besides stand-off and precision weapons.
 




“ The $2-billion fund will initially be utilised 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, which concluded here on Saturday.

Stating that the AMCAs were aimed at bridging the gap between light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas and Sukhoi heavy weight fighters, Subramanyam said though Russia and the United States were into designing of similar aircraft that weigh 30-35 tonne, the AMCA would weigh only 20 tonne.

“ 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, adding ADA would commence research and development on the six-generation AMCA aircraft shortly.

Development Of Advanced MCA to begin by Mid 2011

India’s Aeronautical Development Agency which is currently fast tracking its work on development of Tejas MK-II aircraft ,will also officially start its work on development of countries Next Generation 5th Gen fighter aircraft from mid of 2011 onwards .

Aeronautical Development Agency which is currently developing Tejas MK-2, which will be powered by American GE F414 higher thrust (98kn) will have its first flight by 2014 and will hit production by 2016 , Aeronautical Development Agency has already studied official Air Staff Requirement (ASR) submitted by Indian Air force earlier this year and also has been working unofficially on the design of AMCA and other technology for a while now .

Official of ADA have told idrw.org that ADA plans to have first flight of AMCA by 2018-19 time frame ,since most of the design characters of the aircraft have been already done, but the design is still kept for improvement , which means design has not been frozen yet by ADA .

ADA had earlier has shown a wind tunnel model of AMCA in last years Aero India 2009 , a final or a close AMCA design models may be reveled in next year Aero India 2011 air show claims defence expert Rakesh sharma .

AMCA was earlier called the Medium Combat Aircraft, and basic designs of first sketches where available in late 90′s , MCA or even AMCA is still not officially sanctioned Project by government of India ,it was mostly in house Research and Development by ADA .

Official funding will mark the official development of the aircraft it self , AMCA is projected to have Max take off weight not exceeding 25 tones very similar to Mig-29 , with” Full Stealth” characters as requested by Indian Air Force , which will be supported by locally built active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar which will be likely spin off of AESA radar which is under development for Tejas MK-2 .

It is likely that the Kaveri Mk-2 engine presently being developed by French Company Snecma and DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment will be used for the AMCA.but ADA will also have GE’s F-414 has back up in case Kaveri Mk-2 does not hit production by 2016 . Kaveri Mk-2 is likely to also power Tejas MK-1 when Ge F-404 engines which currently powers them will come up for engine change .

Roadmap Revealed For The Development Of Medium Combat Aircraft-MCA

The head of India's Aeronautical Development Agency yesterday revealed key details of the roadmap for development of the proposed indigenous medium combat aircraft (MCA) in an interview.

ADA will complete a feasibility study on the MCA by the end of 2011. The study will be submitted to the Indian government and air force, and discuss key aspects of the programme, says PS Subramanyam, programme director at the ADA. 

The study will consider several areas: the number of MCA prototypes, prototype timelines, funding, and production schedules for the final aircraft. 

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

Subramanyam also discussed how the MCA will fit into the Indian air force's future force structure. It 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), an Indian variant of the developmental Sukhoi PAK FA. 

Therefore, Subramanyam says, the MCA "does not clash" with the FGFA. He says the MCA will be comparable to the Lockheed Martin F-35, and the FGFA comparable to the F-22 Raptor. 

The MCA will be a single seat fighter. A two seat version will be developed, but primarily as a trainer. A naval variant is not envisaged, but Subramanyam foresees a requirement for a 20t aircraft for India's future indigenous aircraft carriers. A naval variant of the Tejas was rolled out in mid-2010. It is likely to have its first flight this year.

In a recent interview with Flight Daily News, IAF Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik said the MCA will be a medium weight combat aircraft with low observable features and a payload capability of more than five tons. It will have swing role capability and "provide greater flexibility in the application of aerospace power". 

The ADA has previously said 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.

It will be powered by two Kaveri engines optimized for low observable characteristics. The Kaveri, which has suffered considerable delays, is still in development, and will eventually replace General Electric engine in the Tejas.