New Delhi. Describing the Tejas light combat aircraft a defining moment in India’s defence story, speaking at the ET World Leaders Forum, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Our Tejas aircraft is set to become a splendid example of India’s indigenous defence capabilities. It’s not that we aren’t facing challenges in this endeavour, but we have resolved that we will find solutions to every problem and will definitely establish the full capability to build fighter aircraft in India.”
Talking of the next leap, Singh said, “Today, we have also taken steps forward in the direction of building fifth- generation fighter aircraft. We have also moved towards manufacturing the aircraft’s engine in India itself. We are about to start engine manufacturing work in India with the French company Safran.”
Referring to the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), he said that it was India’s most ambitious aviation project yet.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), working under the Defence Ministry, has finalised its paper design and is preparing five prototypes. The rollout is planned for 2027, with a clear roadmap leading to flight testing in 2028 and induction around 2036.
The AMCA is designed as a twin-engine, single-seat stealth fighter capable of both air superiority and deep strike missions. Project Director Krishna Rajendra explained its most important quality: “This aircraft will not be noticed on enemy radar; that is the stealth feature of this aircraft.”
The aircraft has been developed with inputs from DRDO laboratories, CSIR institutions and Indian universities, making it one of the most collaborative defence projects in the country’s history. Capable of flying at Mach 1.8, it will feature internal weapons bays, radar-absorbing structures and an AI-driven “electronic pilot” to assist in combat decisions. Rajendra added, “The job of the second pilot will be done by a digital pilot.”
The AMCA will initially be powered by GE-414 engines, but the government has chosen to work with Safran for a new 110 kN (kilonewton) engine. This deal, part of the India-France Horizon 2047 strategic plan, is expected to deliver a fully co-developed engine with technology transfer.
Singh confirmed the move. “We are about to start engine manufacturing work in India with the French company Safran,” he stated.
Media reports quoting sources in the defence establishment said the engine would be ready in about a decade and would power the advanced version of the AMCA. Safran, which already makes the Rafale’s M88 engine, has also committed to building a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility in Hyderabad.
The minister stressed that India’s position in the global economy gives it the capacity to provide stability at a time of disruption. “Today, when many countries are significantly affected by global supply chain disruption, India can strengthen global supply chains. Today, the big countries of the world talk about China Plus One. I ask you, which country other than India can do this work? I am sure that when you answer, you will say that only India can do this work. When we talk about a self-reliant India, it is not merely a policy of import substitution, but behind it lies a sentiment of Global Good. Behind it is the sentiment of providing the world with a robust supply chain. Today, there is a sense of hope and confidence about India across the entire world,” he said.
He later underlined the point once again. “Amid talks of China Plus One, please tell me who can do it but India. India has the capability to stabilise global supply chain disruptions,” Singh said.
The Defence Ministry has cleared a public-private model for the AMCA programme. This allows Indian companies, including start-ups and MSMEs, to join consortia or joint ventures to produce the aircraft. The idea is to build a domestic base strong enough to deliver not only fighters but also future sixth-generation systems.
Singh also spoke about advances beyond aviation. “The government has launched the India-AI mission to strengthen the country’s AI capabilities, under which models will be developed to meet India’s needs. We want India to become a Global-AI-Hub,” he said. He noted that India-made semiconductors will reach the market by the end of this year.
Singh made a direct pitch to foreign companies. “I would like to appeal to all foreign companies and investors to come and invest in India’s vibrant defence manufacturing ecosystem. We will provide you with all the necessary clearances and offer hand-holding support. Our Make in India is not limited to India only. When you Make in India, you will make for the world. India’s thinking is oriented towards development and peace. For us, development in isolation is not enough; rather, collective development is more important,” he emphasised.
Referencing renowned economist Jagdish Bhagwati, Singh noted India’s changed position in global economics. “The renowned economist Jagdish Bhagwati recently said that earlier, the World Bank used to tell India what to do, but now, India tells the World Bank what to do. This statement reflects India’s journey over the past 11 years from being a dependent economy to becoming a self-reliant and globally competitive economic powerhouse,” Singh said.
The minister also spoke of reforming the international system. “We must also acknowledge that the contemporary global order has given unprecedented prosperity to some countries, while it has also given a large portion of the world’s population only inequality, insecurity and uncertainty. In such a scenario, it is essential that we build a new rules-based world order. A Global Order where there is equality. Equal opportunities for all. Cooperation instead of conflicts. Collaboration instead of competition. I believe that such a world order can only be built under the leadership of India.”
He added, “We have always envisioned a global order where power is guided by responsibility, purpose is rooted in the well-being of all and partnership is the natural state of relations between nations. Indian ethos does not see global order as a contest for dominance, but as a shared journey towards harmony, dignity, and mutual respect for all. In our tradition, the measure of strength is not in the ability to command but in the capacity to care; not in the pursuit of narrow interest but in the commitment to the global good.”
Singh concluded by quoting the late President APJ Abdul Kalam: “Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.”
