Five Prototype 5th-Gen Fighter Jets to Be Developed Under AMCA Execution Model; Private Sector Involved: Rajnath Singh

“Make-in-India is a vital pillar of our national security, and it significantly contributed to India’s successful counter-terrorism operations during Operation Sindoor,” Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh told industry leaders. He further emphasized that the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme’s Execution Model will, for the first time, allow private sector participation alongside public sector undertakings in a major defence initiative—marking a significant step in enhancing indigenous defence capabilities. He made these remarks at the Inaugural Plenary of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit held in New Delhi on May 29, 2025.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project | The Tribune

The Raksha Mantri described the Execution Model for the AMCA programme—aimed at developing a fifth-generation fighter aircraft in India—as a bold and decisive initiative that will elevate the country's aerospace sector to new heights. “Under the AMCA project, the plan is to develop five prototypes, which will be followed by series production. It is a key milepost in the history of the Make-in-India programme,” he said.

Emphasizing the success of the Make-in-India initiative during Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh remarked that without strengthened indigenous defence capabilities, the Indian Armed Forces would not have been able to respond effectively to terrorism in Pakistan and PoK. He called Make-in-India essential for both national security and prosperity, asserting that the deployment of homegrown defence systems in the operation demonstrated India's ability to breach even the strongest enemy defences. “We destroyed the terrorist hideouts and then the military bases. We could have done a lot more, but we presented a great example of coordination of power and restraint,” he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that India has overhauled its counter-terrorism strategy and response, leading Pakistan to understand that supporting terrorism is no longer a viable or low-cost endeavor—it now comes with serious consequences. He further stated that India has redefined its approach towards engagement with Pakistan, making it clear that any future dialogue will be limited strictly to issues concerning terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Reiterating India’s firm stance, the Minister asserted that PoK is an integral part of India. He expressed confidence that those who were separated due to geographical and political reasons will eventually choose to reunite with India of their own will. “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government is committed to its resolve of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Most of the people in PoK have a deep connection with India. There are only a few who have been misled,” he said.

The Raksha Mantri highlighted that the Government has prioritized policy clarity, indigenisation, economic resilience, and strategic autonomy. He stated that the success of these initiatives depends on the active involvement of all stakeholders, including innovators, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers, as strong partners in this national mission. He urged the Indian industry to place national interests above individual company interests. “If securing company interests is your karma, safeguarding national interests is your dharma,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh expressed his thoughts on the summit’s theme, ‘Building Trust & India First,’ highlighting that it is a source of immense pride that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy. “It is not just a matter of the economy growing in size; it is also about the world’s ever-increasing trust in India and its trust in itself. Today, India is not just a consumer of defence technology, but has also become a producer and exporter. When the world approaches us for high-end defence systems, it is not just a market indication, it is a respect for our capability,” he said.

The Raksha Mantri emphasized the significant contribution of the defence sector to India's growth, outlining the achievements made over the past decade as a result of government initiatives. “10-11 years ago, our defence production was approx. Rs 43,000 crore. Today, it has crossed the record figure of Rs 1,46,000 crore, with a contribution of over Rs 32,000 crore by the private sector. Our defence exports, which were around Rs 600-700 crore 10 years ago, have surpassed a record figure of Rs 24,000 crore today. Our weapons, systems, sub-systems, components, and services are reaching around 100 countries. Over 16,000 MSMEs, associated with the defence sector, have become the backbone of the supply chain. These companies are not only strengthening our self-reliance journey, but are also providing employment to lakhs of people,” he said.

Rajnath Singh stated that India is now not only manufacturing fighter jets and missile systems but is also preparing for next-generation warfare technologies. “We are continuously making headway even in frontier technologies. Our progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Defence, Unmanned Systems, and Space-Based Security is being recognised on the global stage. India has the potential to become a development hub for engineering, high precision manufacturing and future technologies,” he said.

Describing the Indian industry as the embodiment of the nation’s collective aspirations, the Raksha Mantri emphasized that India can achieve developed nation status by 2047 only through the combined efforts and synergy of the Government and Industry. He highlighted that in today’s world, a nation's strength is measured not only by economic indicators such as GDP, foreign investment, or export data, but also by the level of confidence it instills in its citizens and the international community. “Trust lasts only when a country has the confidence that it can protect its geopolitical interests, ensure the safety of its citizens, and remain stable in the face of future uncertainties. The morale of the nation remains high only when it knows that its today is secure, and tomorrow is safe,” he added.

The event was attended by several distinguished individuals, including Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, CII President Shri Sanjiv Puri, along with prominent industry leaders.

(Sources: The Tribune, OpIndia)