Indian Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is partnering with PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to be a part of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, India’s most ambitious project to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet for the Indian Air Force.
The BEL, in a statement on Wednesday, said the consortium will participate in the expression of interest notice issued by Government of India’s Aeronautical Development Agency.
The consortium will participate in the Expression of Interest notice issued by Government of India's (GoI) Aeronautical Development Agency, by way of submitting a response in the coming weeks.
The partnership will leverage L&T's expertise in developing strategic defence and aerospace platforms, along with BEL's experience in defence electronics and systems, to jointly contribute to India's 5th-generation fighter aircraft.
The AMCA project is being led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which functions under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
ADA had invited industry consortiums to take a lead role in these tasks, signalling a push for greater collaboration between state agencies and private industry in strategic defence projects.
It is designed to be a twin-engine, fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter capable of handling air superiority, ground attack, and electronic warfare roles. The aircraft is being projected as a crucial step in India’s efforts to reduce dependence on foreign defence equipment.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is the same Indian multinational company that has aims of building an Indian-made jet engine with 110kN thrust for military aircraft. The company aims to make India self-reliant in important defense technologies.
The collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing India's defence capabilities in line with GoI's vision for an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. By combining the strengths of the two leading defence technology providers, the partnership seeks to deliver a cutting-edge, highquality solution.
In the past, L&T and BEL have played pivotal role in India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft programme by supplying major aero-structure modules and developing mission-critical avionics and electronic systems.
Building on this legacy, the consortium will bring proven expertise and commitment to timely delivery of world-class defence and aerospace platforms for the Indian Air Force.
S N Subrahmanyan, Chairman & Managing Director, L&T, said:
"The collaboration with BEL marks a significant leap in our commitment to the modernisation of India's defence capabilities. We are honoured to be working with BEL to deliver next-generation technologies for the Indian Air Force. Both the organisations are leaders in our respective domains and our combined efforts will play a crucial role in bolstering national security and advancing self-reliance in defence technologies".
Manoj Jain, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited, said:
"The AMCA project represents India's growing capabilities in defence technology. Our collaboration with L&T is a crucial step in realising this vision. With L&T's engineering and systems integration capabilities and BEL's expertise in defence electronics, we are confident of delivering a world-class solution that will serve the Indian Air Force for decades to come".
AMCA project is planned as a 10-year development programme, with the first aircraft expected to be ready for induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) by 2034–35.
Recently there was one announcement where India and France are making efforts to co-develop and manufacture a 120 kN jet engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The project, involving French aerospace giant Safran and Indian engineers, will have full technology transfer and indigenous production to India.
However, the outcome of the Expression of Interest (EoI) process will determine which consortiums get shortlisted for further stages of the AMCA programme.
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