AMCA vs Su-57: Which 5th Gen Fighter Jet is Better for India?

The Ministry of Defence has issued the Request for Proposal or RFP for the much-awaited 5th generation AMCA fighter jet project. This marks a major step towards building India’s first indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. The RFP has been sent to three private sector groups — Tata Advanced Systems, L&T with BEL, and Bharat Forge with BEML. The selected company will develop five flying prototypes and one structural test model. The first prototype is expected to fly within 30 months of signing the contract, with a total budget of around fifteen thousand crore rupees for this phase. Reports suggest a strong focus on indigenous content, with the government pushing for high levels of Made in India components right from the beginning. This move is seen as a big push under Atmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign fighter jets while creating a more affordable stealth aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The project is being closely watched as it could reshape India’s defence manufacturing landscape in the coming years.