INDIGENOUS FIFTH-GEN COMBAT AIRCRAFT

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which had conceived and designed the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, has set the ball rolling for building the next-generation combat platform, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). It has extended invitation to private players in Coimbatore to build a technology demonstrator. The proposal is not only the first time an indigenous military aircraft programme is seeking the involvement of private players, but it is also the first time a defence plane development project is proposed to be executed outside Bengaluru. The project that is proposed to be implemented in Sulur in Coimbatore district, marks Tamil Nadu’s first major defence aircraft project. The Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Sulur has been earmarked to be the first permanent base of the LCA Tejas squadron.