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Ankara: Turkey’s deadly fifth-generation fighter aircraft, “KAAN,” took its first flight in February last year, while work is still in progress for the Indian fifth-generation fighter jet project, AMCA. Both countries started their projects to build fifth-generation fighter aircraft in 2010, but Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) took the lead in developing its fighter jet under the KAAN project. While Ankara succeeded in flying its fifth-generation fighter jet, India’s hands are still empty. Therefore, questions are arising as to why the Indian program is so far behind.
It is worth noting that, New Delhi’s Advanced Medium Fighter Aircraft (AMCA) program also started in 2010, but it has moved at a snail’s pace as compared to Turkey’s project. The first prototype is still in development state, with the first flight likely to happen after 2028.
Like KAAN, the AMCA will also feature stealth, supercruise, AESA radar and an internal weapons bay. The fighter jet will initially use the GE-F414 engine, but India also working on developing an indigenous fighter jet engine.
Bureaucratic delays and a lack of funding have slowed the development considerably.
Turkey’s fifth generation stealth twin-engine multirole/air superiority fighter jet conducted its first flight in February 2024. The West Asian country plans to bring jets into service in the early 2030s. It also wants to replace its American-made F-16 fighter aircraft with its fifth-gen fighter aircraft and also sell them.
In 2015, a twin-engine configuration for the jet was decided. Ideas of joint production of engines with Sweden’s SAAB or Russia were dropped eventually.
In December 2015, Turkey revealed that it had chosen BAE Systems from the United Kingdom to assist in designing its fighter aircraft. A contract for design and development was finalized in August 2016, with TAI investing $1.18 billion. At the same time, a request for proposals (RFP) was sent to General Electric, Eurojet, and Snecma for the engines of the aircraft, stipulating that both the engine infrastructure and production should take place in Turkey. Reports indicate that ten General Electric F110 engines were delivered to TEI in 2022.
According to the report, the first aircraft, currently named Block-0, is likely to be produced this year and its first flight is to take place next year. Currently, Turkey has planned to build 3 prototypes. Under this, there is a plan to develop the Block-1 configuration by 2029.
India’s AMCA program was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security last year. Although its critical design review has been completed, AMCA is facing several challenges, including decisions on stealth and aero engines. Notably, New Delhi has proved its power on production of radars and missiles and needs to move forward on AMCA also.
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