Indian Air Force Chief Raises Doubts Over AMCA’s September 2028 First Flight Target

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has once again expressed concerns over the timeline for India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), warning that its maiden flight may not take place as planned in September 2028.

In an interview, Singh voiced concerns over delays in India’s defence projects and the allocation of limited resources across multiple programmes, raising questions about the country’s ability to meet ambitious military modernisation targets.

According to reports on India’s defence planning, the selection of a private-sector company or industrial consortium to develop the AMCA, along with progress on other preliminary stages, will be crucial to keeping the programme on schedule.

The AMCA’s maiden flight is targeted for September 2028. However, concerns over delays have made it increasingly challenging to prepare the aircraft for its first flight by the scheduled date.

The programme aims to develop an advanced indigenous fighter capable of meeting future combat requirements while reducing India’s dependence on foreign-made combat aircraft.

Singh has highlighted the challenges of pursuing several major aviation programmes simultaneously, including the Tejas Mk-1A, Tejas Mk-2, AMCA and fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy. He indicated that spreading available technical expertise and resources across multiple projects could slow progress.

Delays in defence programmes, he warned, could undermine efforts to strengthen the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities at a time when the service is seeking to modernise its fleet and address operational requirements.

The AMCA’s development timeline is particularly significant because the Indian Air Force continues to face a shortage of fighter squadrons. The service currently has 29 squadrons against an authorised strength of 42, leaving a substantial gap in its operational establishment.

Against this backdrop, the timely development and induction of advanced combat aircraft remain key priorities for India’s defence planners.

Even if the AMCA makes its maiden flight as scheduled, the aircraft will still have to undergo extensive technical evaluations, flight trials and other testing before it can enter operational service. Consequently, several years could pass between its first flight and its eventual induction into the Indian Air Force.

Any further delay could therefore push back the arrival of India’s planned fifth-generation fighter capability, adding to the challenges facing its military modernisation programme.