India Explores Unmanned AMCA Fighter Jet, IAF Prefers Manned Version

A potential technological leap for India's defence sector is taking shape, with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), a branch of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), exploring a groundbreaking unmanned variant of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

This proposed 5th-generation fighter jet, if developed, would operate entirely through an "Electronic Pilot" and ground commands.

The unmanned AMCA presents a significant potential advantage for India, eliminating the risk to human pilots while offering increased tactical flexibility. However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) remains cautious, prioritizing the development of a traditional manned AMCA.

While the manned AMCA is likely to incorporate advanced features such as automatic takeoff and landing, the IAF reportedly insists on human control at the core of its fighter fleet. The development of a fully unmanned variant remains in its early conceptual stages.

This news reflects a larger, ongoing debate within military circles worldwide -- the role of fully autonomous combat systems versus traditional, human-piloted craft. The ADA's proposal indicates that India is positioned to be at the forefront of this technological discussion.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have already proven their value, but the transition of a full-fledged fighter jet to autonomous control raises complex technical and ethical questions.

As discussions between the ADA and IAF continue, the future of the AMCA program hangs in the balance. It remains to be seen whether a compromise will be reached to develop the manned and unmanned versions in tandem or if resources will focus solely on the traditional manned fighter jet.

 

[sumit pannu]

ADA= CAN WE MAKE UDAN TASTARI
IAF= PEHLE CYCLE BANA

 

[Satya Dev]

They failed the country in the Rustam/Tapas UAV, but want to make unmanned AMCA - an aircraft which exists only on paper!

 

[siva]

First ,let finish mk2 and manned amca before 2050

 

[Anant]

They can't finish one variant thanks, in part, to bureaucracy, and they want to start on more variants. Sheesh...

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

ADA is totally useless. Dissolve it completely and send it's employees back to HAL.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Next time ADA or HAL get a bit adventurous and propose a mirage, please respond that Government is also feeling equally adventurous thinking of diluting its stake in HAL/ADA and set in motion their roadmap towards privatization.

 

[Harsh]

I think DRDO/ADA is suffering from extreme case of ADHD.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Only 2 things in my mind.. either this is just a mis information. ADA has not tell anything like that. Or we heard this thing about AMCA MK2 that it will be optionally maned aircraft. This article is just recreating that news to ADA's present statements.

 

[k2b2]

ADA ki team ko Himalay jake thoda tap karne ki jaroorat hai..! jiske karan unko ek direction mile kaam ki ! ek break ki jaroorat aan padi lagti hai.

 

[bonito]

Making one just 1 jet in 1 variant within 2031 will be actual ground breaking technologucal.acheivement.

 

[NSR]

IAF is 100% right because when you do not even have a manned one, then it is foolish to try unmanned one.
A customer is always BOSS and RIGHT.

Stop all the hare-brained ideas and deliver Tejas IA, Tejas Mk2, TEDBF, AMCA,, etc as fast as is possible.

 

[Kira]

Actual results ❌
Day dreaming ✅

 

[Siddharth Asthana]

Some in ADA need annual awards before retirement hence this fanboy fantasies....its like Mr Tata saying, I need an unmanned flying car that is battery operated

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

This reminds me of of an old saying:-

Daanton sei mungphali nahin todi ja rahi, magar baatein akhrot phodnei ki karni hai.

These jokers should be prosecuted for wasting taxpayers' time, money and confidence and put behind bars.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Some in ADA need annual awards before retirement hence this fanboy fantasies....its like Mr Tata saying, I need an unmanned flying car that is battery operated

Actually TATA might just successfully accomplish developing just that before ADA can even finalize their engineering drafts. From what I heard the engine is undecided therefore the design itself remains incomplete, as diameter of engine tunnel is dependent on the engine being selected.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

They failed the country in the Rustam/Tapas UAV, but want to make unmanned AMCA - an aircraft which exists only on paper!

I dont mind this project actually
But ADA should wait till AMCA prototype is at least ready. That way they can make an unmanned prototype based on that manned one.

Recently there was some issue with the Ghatak UCAV development. It was shifted from ADA to ADE (DRDO). Maybe this statement is a result of some inter agency rivalry. It is not necessarily a bad thing. But the higher ups need the monitor these organisations carefully.

 

[Anant]

I dont mind this project actually
But ADA should wait till AMCA prototype is at least ready. That way they can make an unmanned prototype based on that manned one.

Recently there was some issue with the Ghatak UCAV development. It was shifted from ADA to ADE (DRDO). Maybe this statement is a result of some inter agency rivalry. It is not necessarily a bad thing. But the higher ups need the monitor these organisations carefully.

Part of the problem here is that ADA is trying to juggle too many projects at once. Let them focus on the manned AMCA first. An unmanned version can be developed afterwards, as you pointed out. Moreover, inter-agency rivalry is good when you are delivering results. If the competition for this rivalry is about who can make the most outlandish statements, then we can make any number of nonsensical statements such as "India will have a 7th generation fighter flying by 2040."

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Part of the problem here is that ADA is trying to juggle too many projects at once. Let them focus on the manned AMCA first. An unmanned version can be developed afterwards, as you pointed out. Moreover, inter-agency rivalry is good when you are delivering results. If the competition for this rivalry is about who can make the most outlandish statements, then we can make any number of nonsensical statements such as "India will have a 7th generation fighter flying by 2040."

That was the reason why ghatak was transferred for them. Reasoning of the govt was that ADA should focus on manned system while ADE would focus on drones exclusively

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Classic PSU evasive maneuver. Propose to develop something radical and completely new so that the ensuing scope creep can then be employed to justify ridiculously long development cycles. Quite frankly it's now becoming boring, they need to work on new reasons as the current Modus Operandi is getting stale as its painfully apparent they are trying to build up an alibi for the delays in the project, which the project will invariably suffer.