AMCA Program Reportedly Faced Bureaucratic Scrutiny over Cost Concerns

India's highly anticipated Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, a cornerstone of the nation's defence modernization, has reportedly faced bureaucratic resistance stemming from budgetary concerns.

According to India Today media reports, the program encountered opposition when seeking approval for a budget of nearly ₹15,000 crore from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

Sources indicate that this opposition originated from multiple fronts, surprisingly including factions within the Indian Armed Forces themselves. The primary concern voiced by these groups is the program's potentially burdensome financial requirements.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), responsible for leading the AMCA project, seems to have experienced significant bureaucratic hurdles even in the initial approval stages. The ADA submitted its proposal for CCS clearance roughly a year ago, yet extensive negotiations with Indian officials were required to gain the necessary approval.

To push for faster approval, the ADA reportedly sought intervention from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), expressing concerns that further delays could lead to the aircraft becoming obsolete before reaching fruition. This suggests a sense of urgency regarding the AMCA's timely development within the global arms race.

The report highlights Turkey's successful first flight of its TF-X stealth fighter, nicknamed "Kaan," as a potential catalyst. Sources speculate that this success may have highlighted the risk for India of falling behind nations aggressively pursuing next-generation fighter jet technology.

Though it remains unconfirmed whether the Kaan's first flight directly influenced the CCS's ultimate decision-making, reports suggest a combination of the ADA's persistence in addressing concerns and the heightened sense of international competition may contribute to the program's eventual approval.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Officials opposing AMCA must be working on enemy payroll. They are more dangerous than Pannun, Hafez , Masood and Dawood. They must be identified and served the harshest of punishment including secret executions . Bharat should have no place for traitors.

Some amount of red tape is desirable when talking about multi billion dollar programs. It encourages greater scrutiny and prevents laidback approach on the part of the developing agency.

But for such an important strategic project, where time is of the essence, opposition should not have happened.

 

[Rajesh]

These b*sterds wants commission form foreign OEMs and their Indian counterparts(indian screwdriver companies) as electoral bonds,rafale watches and foreign tours . There are hundreds such pimps like sp tyagi's among the top positions of govt and armed forces who pull back atmanirbhar barath program two steps down when others take it one step up. Untill an agressive and innovative defense minister is bought instead of a sleep 😴 one we will see mig21 and imported jets along with other equipments serving in the forces.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Going by history it always happens.. only NAVY was exceptional... LCA IOC can be inducted in 2012 but inducted in 2016...delay in 4 years.. the GSQR had been change multiple times for LCA mk1 FOC to delay the program.. IAF took 5 years for pricing of MK1A... MK2 fund approved in 2022 only but fund release only in 2023.. AMCA project should sanction in 2016 itself.. but fund got approve in 2024.. Now this is our air force.. For army and air force, fascination in foreign mall is decade old.. Arjun tank was built on GSQR of army but when it came out suddenly army change the requirement and go for T-90. Light tank was developed in 2001 btu for last 20 years army was sleeping. Army tried its best to reject ATAGS but thanks to current GOI policy they have to accept.. but till date they have not placed the order... They are waiting something happens and they are allowed to purchased ATHOS. LCH is another example... the excuse of ATAGM on LCH army delaying the process... in fact army itself denying HELINA integration on LCH. They want helfire from US. Also waiting something happens and they allowed to purchased more Apache... I ask one question is this not surprise everybody that the country can built ICBM, nuclear submarine can land on Moon can't make an good assault rifle....???? everybody must ask this question... where is MCIWS, where are SSS defense rifles.. why those was not inducted...

 

[Avada kedavra]

From Russia ukraine war one thing is certain. Either u lose expensive military hardware or you use extensively trained and motivated soldiers who are very difficult to replace.

The Indian military and govt have to choose which one is worth losing.

From whatever I have I can say they would prefer to lose valuable soldiers. Since india already has such a huge population. They prefer to use meat grinder tactics like Russia and china.

 

[Man-ju]

When we can have difference of opinion in comments section then it's obvious there will be difference of opinion in decision making. However there is a possibility that some of the decision makers are driven by arms dealers who want to import, so their financial monitoring is required by revenue intelligence. AMCA is the need of the hour without falling into the trap of Chineese or Turks. But one thing for sure our Defence PSU need to improve performance as their reputation still gives an impression that these funds will go waste and they will take 2 decades to build a 5th gen fighter despite giving funds on time.

 

[Avada kedavra]

They just want kick backs , want to settle in Foreign after Retirement.

Who doesnt

 

[Man-ju]

How can they be so stupid?? Must be named and asked to explain. What will happen to your treasury when china attacks with J20s and FC31s??

You know the basic logic, that we don't need 5th gen fighter to intercept 5th gen fighters.

 

[Man-ju]

They just want kick backs , want to settle in Foreign after Retirement.

I think that's the psychology of most Indians or maybe everyone in this Indian subcontinent. It's in genes.

 

[Man-ju]

Need it be mentioned that the amount allocated to the Tejas back in the 1980s, when adjusted to 2023, amount to roughly 1 billion dollars? In contrast, AMCA is taking around 1.8 billion dollars equivalent.

These bureaucrats don't seem to understand the fact that you can't just jump to a sixth generation jet while even a 4.5th generation fighter has still not completed development. Utter morons, these bureaucrats.

I have had such arguments where people claim that funds for Tejas was allocated decades ago yet even today the delivery is not proper. They claim what's the point of giving funds to PSU where they will again delay AMCA and force us to import as stop gap(just like rafale).

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

KF-21 is anything But 5th gen in its current iteration firstly, Secondly Lockheed is providing extensive consultation to the Koreans. The Kaan at the moment is a glorified RC Model Aircraft at best with at least a decade way from anything "5th gen standard" fruitful. Also Turkiye being a NATO member has been getting extensive consultation from BAE & other western partners. There is a reason it suddenly appeared in the World Defence Exporting Map 5 years back. So India is no way behind & India has a complete different approach in its aircraft development ideology & is also going majorly indigenous way for its program barring the engine for Mk1 & with the technology & supply chain for aircraft manufacturing maturing over the last decade for LCA, things will only get better from here.

Bureaucrats were skeptical ONLY because they are going to miss out the HUGE Kickbacks from current 5th gen manufacturers. Its a Gods blessing that India has such a Nationalist with Hindustan First Policy government at the helm for long term for the first time since its independence

Even AMCA MK1 won't be in 2037-40. What's ur point? They have five fully functional prototypes that are already flying and thus they will enter service far before our AMCA.

An AMCA MK1 post 2040 is virtually useless and dead in arrival as by then the threats I would fave would make it far too obselete.

That ideology is exactly the one that makes little sense. They try to do everything at once and when one if sub system development falls behind schedule, the induction of entire project is endlessly delayed, year after year. Rather than adopting an iterative program development model where priority is on putting the platform into production they follow the most risky model with multiple fault points.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

It won't be obsolete. As the American, Chinese, and Russian Air Forces are now realising, you cannot have a large air force comprised exclusively of fifth generation fighters unless you are ready to spend truly absurd amounts of money. They are considerably more expensive than older aircraft, and the imposition of stealth means they have to compromise on things such as payload.

Similarly, AMCA will not be a one-size-fits-all replacement for all our older aircraft, and in a 'clean' configuration, would be close to a 5th generation fighter in most aspects. Hence, it would also be used in a similar manner to what the F-35 is proposed to be used as: A guiding beacon for stand-off munitions fired from 4.5th generation aircraft from increased ranges.

Oh don't compare the networking and sensor fusion on KF-21:with AMCA. I seriously doubt we can even match the processing on F-16 Block 70/72. We have been late to realize importance of networking and sensor fusion and we just recently started a project to consolidate and interlink IAF commands under unified information network.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Another fake article by DRDO. These officials provided mission mode funding to Rustom, provided 1.5 billion dollars for ISE for Rafale, are providing 90% funding to L&T for FICV, and approved 500% additional budget for various delayed and failed DRDO budgets. They approved AMCA project earlier knowing this cost. IAF chief is giving daily statements on AMCA knowing this cost. They approved 6billion dollars to HAL for FGFA. But they argued about 1.8 billion dollars for this project? Pure non sense. 15 years in designing didn’t delay the project but 11 months in approval made it obsolete?

Fact is, DRDO is a lying and cheating organization. ADA has an embarrassing track record. So checking each and every word of the file became necessary. In a real competitive environment, every single person associated with ADA would have been fired if anything. But MoD gave funds from the emergency reserve for this project. That is why this article, like many others, has no specific names or sources but only vague accusations. GoI must learn narrative building from them.

300 km MLRS suppose to make by some pvt companies.. GOI is ready to fund that also... But surprising now GOI turns to that lying and cheating organization to make 300 km MLRS... and according to you they idiots can't even make 300 km rockets with funding can make a fifth gen jet if funding provided.... we are not fool boss...

 

[Sumit Verma]

Officials opposing AMCA must be working on enemy payroll. They are more dangerous than Pannun, Hafez , Masood and Dawood. They must be identified and served the harshest of punishment including secret executions . Bharat should have no place for traitors.

Not really my friend not everybody is your enemy if they have a different opinion. Even i oppose AMCA. It's too late to start a 5th gen program. Scrap it and work on developing a 6th gen jet. Having is a vision for the future is more important than being a atmanirbhar at a one generation old jet. Bas worldclass worldclass airforce bolne se koi bhi airforce worldclass nahi banjaati. It requires vision and dedication. Either make AMCA a 6th gen jet program or scrap it. Stop importing rafale. Start importing 5th gen from outside. This would have been much better thinking.

 

[Akshat]

300 km MLRS suppose to make by some pvt companies.. GOI is ready to fund that also... But surprising now GOI turns to that lying and cheating organization to make 300 km MLRS... and according to you they idiots can't even make 300 km rockets with funding can make a fifth gen jet if funding provided.... we are not fool boss...

Please show me where was the relevant tender released for this 300 mm rocket. We are not fools boss.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

Not really my friend not everybody is your enemy if they have a different opinion. Even i oppose AMCA. It's too late to start a 5th gen program. Scrap it and work on developing a 6th gen jet. Having is a vision for the future is more important than being a atmanirbhar at a one generation old jet. Bas worldclass worldclass airforce bolne se koi bhi airforce worldclass nahi banjaati. It requires vision and dedication. Either make AMCA a 6th gen jet program or scrap it. Stop importing rafale. Start importing 5th gen from outside. This would have been much better thinking.

U appear to be confused . Bharat/ ADA is rightly progressing from 4 to 4.5 to 5 to 5.5 generation fighters before jumping to 6 th generation fighters. Our main enemy is PLA that is still struggling to make a true 4.5 generation fighters called J-20. As you have suggested, Bharat has already stopped trying to acquire foreign 5th generation fighters. Acquisitions of additional Rafales in my view will hardly go beyond 36 Rafales more . Bharat is perfectly on time if it rolls AMCA in 2025-2026 and makes them ready for induction in 2030-32 . U have no other choice except to develop AMCA at faster timelines.

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

Not really my friend not everybody is your enemy if they have a different opinion. Even i oppose AMCA. It's too late to start a 5th gen program. Scrap it and work on developing a 6th gen jet. Having is a vision for the future is more important than being a atmanirbhar at a one generation old jet. Bas worldclass worldclass airforce bolne se koi bhi airforce worldclass nahi banjaati. It requires vision and dedication. Either make AMCA a 6th gen jet program or scrap it. Stop importing rafale. Start importing 5th gen from outside. This would have been much better thinking.

I understand what you are saying , still one cannot walk before learning to stand up by him/herself. I agree we are notorious for delays ( in every aspect be it ,planning research , development or manufacturing ) but we are really making progress especially in the last 10 years and hopefully within the next 2 decades we will attain the position what every Indian aspires .
Jaihind.

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

This is BS. .. compare the money spent by the so called pioneers in the world thai is peanuts. Unless we immerse ourselves into R&D we will never be atmanirbhar.

 

[Pad UwU]

Wadafaq🙀
If this true we are screw up🤭😹😹😹
Looks like we should go all the way to "plan B" instead by joining 6gen aircraft project like GCAP so that we can maintain some edge in technology and knowledge

 

[Pad UwU]

Those officials do such things on the directions of foreign weapon d@l@ls.
For decades, foreign weapon d@l@ls had access in defence ministry. NDA regime blocked their way to ministry, but still they'll be in contact with several officials.
But still they failed in there objectives and amca program got approval.

Nah if that's the case we need hard evidence that would point them taking payrolls

 

[Pad UwU]

Officials opposing AMCA must be working on enemy payroll. They are more dangerous than Pannun, Hafez , Masood and Dawood. They must be identified and served the harshest of punishment including secret executions . Bharat should have no place for traitors.

Are you proposing of summary execution of those government officials??? Without trial because we just see it as treasonous act without proper evidence why they opposing to further continue AMCA???
If that's the case, wow China and other communist countries will clapping us and congratulations because we're becoming like their government 😹😹😹😹
I love our Wadafaq version of DEMOCRACY we have if that it🤭🙃