India's AMCA Project Spells Trouble for Russia's Su-57 and Su-75 Ambitions

The Security Committee of the Council of Ministers of India has embarked on an ambitious venture: the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project. With a dedicated investment of 1.8 billion dollars, India is bolstering its aerospace capabilities while marking a significant shift in its defence strategy.

The AMCA project highlights India's determination to become self-sufficient in defence, moving away from its traditional reliance on Russian military technology.

India and Russia have shared a long history of defence cooperation, with India utilizing primarily Soviet-era equipment and technology. However, recent developments signal a changing dynamic.

Russia's introduction of the Su-75 Checkmate, a fifth-generation fighter aircraft aimed at markets like India, has been met with an underwhelming response. India's reduced enthusiasm for Russian hardware highlights its desire to diversify its military procurement and nurture its own defence industry.

The AMCA project embodies India's ambition to plot its own path in military aviation. With substantial investment in developing a fifth-generation fighter jet, India seeks to both reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers and greatly enhance its defence capabilities.

The AMCA promises to be a highly adaptable platform, featuring advanced avionics, stealth technology, and unmatched firepower, all designed to meet the evolving needs of the Indian Air Force.

India's decision to develop the AMCA has far-reaching strategic consequences. By building domestic capabilities in military aviation, India bolsters its national security and cements its position as a sovereign power on the global stage.

Further, the AMCA's development will increase India's standing as a credible partner in defence cooperation, fostering potential collaborations with other nations in aerospace technology.

 

[Ashutosh]

J35 or FC-31 is still lomg way away. It is first going to be inducted by chinese navy, then it would be exported that too in few numbers

Only few numbers of a stealth aircraft is enough to give CAS. We have Rafales in few numbers only.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

Only short term solution is to speed up MRFA. Dassault is reeling under orders and will only be too happy to make in India, for India and possibly Gulf too. Maybe 114 can be broken into two, 78 Rafale and 36 SU57, assembled here to maintain balance.

Its pointless to pursue the SU 57. In terms of stealth it is inferior to American and Chinese stealth planes. Western sensors and avionics are far superior to Russian ones. Without significant investment by China or India the SU 57 has no future as Russia on its own lacks the resources to develop it to its full potential. Better to have a strategic partnership with Dassault to manufacture Rafales.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Only few numbers of a stealth aircraft is enough to give CAS. We have Rafales in few numbers only.

Our rafales though few in numbers are proven system with decades of development and service with a suite of state of the weapon like meteor.

And these rafales were super costly. That is why we bought so few first time around.

The number of FC-31 aircraft Pakistan can afford is in single digits which they will struggle to maintain because stealth aircraft are notoriously difficult and exoensive to maintain.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

HAL already tried with a JV model, but it failed

True, russians wanted russian engines on those planes. India didnt want russian engines becuse of previous experiences. Probably alternative is indian design with russian assistance maybe for some funds to them. Or Maybe a modified russian or ukranian design with western engines after the war! Because they will need money after the war ,both ukranian antonovs and russians. We should buy some of their technologies for some money. Thats what chinese did after ussr fall.

 

[Mridul baruah]

LOL.. Let me say what's going to happen. We will keep getting néw dates of roll out and first flight. By then Pakistan will be getting their 5th Gen fighters from China and Turkey. Then India will panic buy the Russian Su57s paying twice the price.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

What a joke 🤣🤣🤣 .. mark my comment , sooner or later iaf have to buy small number of foreigner 5th gen aircraft because pakistan will get 5th gen aircraft before 2030 and about amca we will be very lucky if we see amca in iaf sarvice before 2040 ...

I dont think so. Pakistan's 2 options both have just started flying. It will be another 5-6 yrs minimum to clear everything, then they get export ready.

India will have its prototypes by then, i hope.

 

[Mridul baruah]

J35 or FC-31 is still lomg way away. It is first going to be inducted by chinese navy, then it would be exported that too in few numbers

If a fighter with more than 2 flying prototype is long time away.. What about a fighter that is on paper and is going to be made by an organisation that has a dubious reputation with relaxed approach to work.

 

[Ashutosh]

The number of FC-31 aircraft Pakistan can afford is in single digits which they will struggle to maintain because stealth aircraft are notoriously difficult and exoensive to maintain.

Are u sure about ur statement that Pak will induct less than 10 J35 or KAAN!?

Again, are u sure Rafales are enough to counter J20, J35, or KAAN!?
If Rafales are mature and upgraded platforms, Chinese fighters too have gone through const. upgrades. The new J20 B with better engine provides better thrust to weight ratio and improved power to avionics.....On what basis u think a 4.5 gen fighter with no significant boost in avionics would be enough to overpower a stealthy aircraft with literally overpowered avionics!?

If anything, Rafale F5 can only have some clear cut dominance

 

[Mridul baruah]

Obviously, amca is going to enter in production after 2030 as as we started the project in 2010 so I never expected that we can develop it before 2030. And I agree we have to buy foreign 5th gen fighters

Beta 2030 tak ek prototype bhi bana liye to apna naam badal lunga. Production ko 2040 lag jayega pakka hai ye.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

We should develop our own SSN

190MW is possible by barc

I hope so, there were great rumours around it, now there is no sound at all.

 

[Ashutosh]

Source?

Hypothetical story made up by over-listening Western propoganda

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

We should go for Su 75, if Russia manages to rollout and conduct first flight of the plane before 2027, since it's a SEF- it can easily complement AMCA when the later would be ready( mk1- 2033 IOC).

Pak already has 2 options, and they might induct J35 soon. We can't afford to lose the lead to them.

If you are proposing a cheap almost 4th gen non stealthy platform just because opponent has a stealthy plane, you are lost. First of all, pakistan even if it inducts it will be not before 2030. Then we have great multilayered airdefense systems coming in both north and west both in s400 ,barak and others and our own s400 is in developments. 3rd, wars cant be fought with imported weapons. So trust the military planners, we are mere spectators, they want to fight with indigenous planers.lets focus on those.

 

[ryan]

What a joke 🤣🤣🤣 .. mark my comment , sooner or later iaf have to buy small number of foreigner 5th gen aircraft because pakistan will get 5th gen aircraft before 2030 and about amca we will be very lucky if we see amca in iaf sarvice before 2040 ...

Bro, first none of these 2 options are anywhere near 5th gen. 4.5 gen at its best and that too a stretch. The showcased KAAN is at best a glorified RC model. Second lets wait if Bhikharistaan exists till 2030

 

[Ashutosh]

If you are proposing a cheap almost 4th gen non stealthy platform just because opponent has a stealthy plane, you are lost. First of all, pakistan even if it inducts it will be not before 2030. Then we have great multilayered airdefense systems coming in both north and west both in s400 ,barak and others and our own s400 is in developments. 3rd, wars cant be fought with imported weapons. So trust the military planners, we are mere spectators, they want to fight with indigenous planers.lets focus on those.

4 th gen.!?
How is Su 75 4 th gen!?

Secondly, if u are dependent in hypothetical possibilities that we would have a multilayered strong AD by 2030- congrats, u have already lost! IAF was also living in same hypothesis until Swift Retort which literally exposed the vulnerable BVR potential & skills of IAF.

3rd , a few numbers of a stealth platform to ensure CAS- and ur totally wrong statement - we can't win on imported weapons- sure we can't, they are vulnerable but if I take history in context- we have won 6 of 7 wars post independence with heavy dependence on foreign maal

 

[ryan]

I dont think so. Pakistan's 2 options both have just started flying. It will be another 5-6 yrs minimum to clear everything, then they get export ready.

If you really consider these two as Bhikaristaan's "options" then the F3R Rafale is enough for what they bring to the table

 

[Itachi]

I dont think so. Pakistan's 2 options both have just started flying. It will be another 5-6 yrs minimum to clear everything, then they get export ready.

J31/35 already in advance stages . 2/3 years Max then China will start introducing j35 same time pakistani airforce already said they will buy j31 before 2030 ..

 

[Rajesh]

SU-57 withered away when Russia took $350 millions to define Indian FGFA concept (SU-75 derivative) but did not let Indian IAF or any government employee go near the SU-57 prototype.
Russia asked for billions to develop Indian FGFA and India refused it.
Russia failed the trust test right there and then.

Russian fan boys still find it hard to digest and are in the wonderland that we will again go for the fgfa program. 💯. what u have written won't be digested by them.

 

[NSR]

Russian fan boys still find it hard to digest and are in the wonderland that we will again go for the fgfa program. 💯. what u have written won't be digested by them.

Totally agree.
Also we got very badly burned by Vikramaditya acquisition and Mig-29K performance episode too and Smerch and T-90 gun TOT episodes too.
Hard for fanatics to understand these things..

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

I always said that we are too over optimistic about AMCA as R&D is a time consuming process And according to recent reports Su 75 will be delayed.

Projects like AMCA needs to be made national priorities. Teams working on it should be expanded and resources provided without delay.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Again, are u sure Rafales are enough to counter J20, J35, or KAAN!?

I was talking about pakistan. I never mentioned J20 and competing with China. Pakistan has ordered J10 in same number as India ordered rafale. And like India has given orders for so many tejas mk1a, and mk2, tedbf,amca are in development, pakistan has no equivalent program. Pakistan instead has plan to improve jf17.

Pakistan does not have money. India has paid huge amount of money for 36 rafale. It will cost us even more for 100+ MRFA. pakistan cannot afford that.

When pakistan goes to buy kaan or fc-31, they will be export variant with worse avionics. And both will be super expensive.