The HAL Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is an Indian programme to develop a fifth-generation stealth, multirole combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy which will also include sixth-generation technologies. The design of the aircraft is carried out by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is expected to be produced by a public-private joint venture between the DRDO, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and an Indian private company. The development cost is estimated to be around ₹15,000 crore (~$2 billion). 

As of February 2023, DRDO has completed design of AMCA and is waiting for "Critical Design Review'", which according to The Indian Express, is a technical review to ensure that the system of an aircraft can proceed into fabrication, demonstration and test and can meet performance requirements.

AMCA will be a single-seat, twin-engine aircraft. The AMCA Mark 1 will come equipped with 5.5 generation technologies and Mark 2 will have the incremental 6th generation technology upgrades. The AMCA is intended to perform a multitude of missions including Air supremacy, Ground-Strike, Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Electronic Warfare (EW) missions. It is intended to be a potent replacement for the Sukhoi Su-30MKI air superiority fighter, which forms the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet.

The AMCA design is optimised for low radar cross section and supercruise capability. Feasibility study on AMCA and the preliminary design stage have been completed, and the project entered the detailed design phase in February 2019. The AMCA is currently the only 5th generation fighter under development in India.

Some analysts have questioned the feasibility of India's ability to independently develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft as India lacks the industrial base and technical capabilities to do so. The analysts note that India also lacks a robust military industrial base to manufacture the aircraft in large numbers, asserting instead that India should either elicit foreign collaboration or join a multi-national fighter program such as the European FCAS which would benefit the development of the AMCA project.

Development

AMCA Program

The AMCA programme, earlier known as Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA) programme, is an Indian programme to develop a fifth-generation fighter. It began as a parallel programme to the Indo-Russia Sukhoi/HAL FGFA. The AMCA programme was launched in 2010. Although envisioned as a 20-tonne class fighter earlier, now AMCA is 25-tonne class fighter. A feasibility study was launched in October 2010, followed by Project Definition and Preliminary Design phase in 2013. From November 2013 to December 2014, 9 design configurations of AMCA, starting from 3B-01 to 3B-09, were studied using CAD, low-speed - high-speed wind tunnel testing, and radar cross section (RCS) testing. By the end of 2014, configuration 3B-09 was chosen. In 2015, the basic design configuration of AMCA was finalized, and has been accepted by IAF in 2016. As of October 2022, the AMCA is yet to get Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS) approval, which is essential for prototype development. According to Dr A.K. Ghosh, project director of AMCA, "Once the project sanction is received, the prototype can be rolled out in three years and the first flight in one to one and (a) half years after that".

The IAF plan to procure at least 125 AMCA in Mark-1 and Mark-2 configurations. The Mark 2 of AMCA is expected to have a more powerful engine, sixth-generation features and technologies to stay relevant in the coming decades.

Sixth-generation technologies
In an interview given in 2020, the then Air force Chief R. K. S. Bhadauria stated that "The planning process is already underway for combat systems like optionally manned sixth generation technologies, smart wingman concept, swarm drones, long persistent HALE (High-Altitude Long Endurance) platforms and hypersonic weapons, among others. He also added that it is imperative to incorporate such advanced technologies to keep AMCA relevant. It is also reaffirmed by IAF's current chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari.

Design

Overview
The AMCA is a twin-engine, stealth supersonic multi-role fighter designed for the IAF. At present, the AMCA is planned as a fifth generation fighter but will integrate emerging, best of breed sixth generation technologies over time. The AMCA would be the first fifth generation fighter to enter service with the Indian Air Force.

The AMCA is designed with shoulder mounted diamond shaped trapezoidal wings, a profile with substantial area-ruling to reduce drag at transonic speeds, and a stabilator V-tail with large fuselage mounted tail-wing. Flight control surfaces include leading and trailing-edge flaps, ailerons, rudders on the canted vertical stabilizers, and all-moving tailplanes; these surfaces also serve as air brakes. The cockpit features a single seat configuration which is placed high, near the air intakes and wings of the aircraft to provide good visibility to the pilot with a single bubble canopy. A leading-edge root extension (LERX), which is a small fillet, is situated on the front section of the intake and wings of the aircraft. It has a typically roughly rectangular shape, running forward from the leading edge of the wing root to a point along the fuselage. The aircraft features a tricycle landing gear configuration. The weapons bay is placed on the underside of the fuselage between the nose and main landing gear. The AMCA is designed to produce a very small radar cross-section, to accomplish this it features "S-shaped" air-intakes to reduce radar exposure to the fan blade which increases stealth, uses an internal weapons bay and features the use of composites and other materials. The flight control surfaces are controlled by a central management computer system. The AMCA will have some sixth generation characteristics such as an optionally crewed, directed energy weapons, capable of controlling UCAVs and swarm drones.

Stealth and radar signature
The AMCA design has inherent radar stealth, achieved through twin-tail layout, platform edge alignment and serration, body conformal antenna and low intercept radar, diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) with serpentine ducts which conceal engine fan blades, internal weapons bay and extensive use of composites in airframe. According to Janes Information Services quoting ADA, the airframe of AMCA will have 38–40% composite. As of October 2022, designers are still in the process of refining the radar deflection capability of AMCA.

Sensors and avionics
The AMCA is expected to have distributed passive sensors with Artificial intelligence (AI) assisted multi-sensor data fusion to increase situational awareness and to work in tandem with the advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite onboard AMCA. The AMCA has a distributed processing system employing fast processors and smart subsystems. The AMCA will also have an integrated vehicle health monitoring system which works on sensor fusion.

AMCA will be equipped with a larger and powerful variant of the Uttam AESA Radar which will use gallium nitride (GaN) technology. It will be mounted on a mechanically steerable mount. An onboard condition monitoring system is also planned to be included in the AMCA.

Cockpit
The AMCA will have a glass cockpit equipped with a wide panoramic touchscreen display for enhanced man-machine interaction, a multi function display (MFD) placed in portrait orientation and a wide-angle holographic head-up display (HUD). The AMCA will have hands-on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) arrangement with right hand on stick and left hand on throttle settings to ease the pilot workload.

Propulsion
The AMCA is to be powered by two afterburning turbofan engines. The plan is to equip General Electric F414 afterburning turbofan engine on AMCA Mark-1, while a more powerful joint venture (JV) engine is planned for AMCA Mark-2.

As per Government statement in Rajya Sabha during Winter Session 2021, there is a proposal to jointly develop engine for AMCA with the help of foreign partner using the know how from Kaveri engine development programme.

On 15 July 2023, India and France agreed to collaborate for the joint development of a combat aircraft engine which would power the Mark-2 variant of AMCA as part of the Horizon 2047 document for India-France strategic partnership. A roadmap for this project will be prepared between French firm Safran and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) before the end of 2023.

Armament
The AMCA features an internal weapons bay for carrying missiles and standoff precision guided munitions in stealthy configuration, while also has provision for external hardpoints for carrying ordinance externally for non-stealthy missions. Directed energy weapons are also planned to be equipped on the AMCA.

Operators

Indian Air Force – 7 squadrons (planned)

Specifications (projected)
Specifications can vary as the aircraft is still in development. All the informations are based on available non-official sources - approximate and preliminary.

See also

References

Notes

References

External links

Flight videos and photos
Images of a model of the re-designed AMCA Fighter at Aero India – 2013
HAL AMCA official video
 BASIC FLIGHT SIMULATOR FOR AMCA

Indian military aircraft procurement programs
Twinjets
Mid-wing aircraft
V-tail aircraft
AMCA
Stealth aircraft
Carrier-based aircraft
Proposed aircraft of India
Proposed military aircraft
고등중형전투기(高等中型戰鬪機, )는 인도의 힌두스탄 항공사(HAL)가 개발중인 스텔스 5세대 전투기이다.

역사 
고등중형전투기 사업(AMCA)은 인도 공군이 미라지 2000, SEPECAT 재규어 등의 구형기들을 대체하는 스텔스 기능을 통합한 쌍발 엔진 전투기를 개발하기 위해 시작되었다. 2010년 4월에 발표된 IAF의 항공 참모 요건(ASR)에 따라 25톤 체급의 전투기를 제조한다. 첫 프로토타입은 2024년에 출시할 예정이며, 2025년에 처녀비행에 나선다.

사업규모 
2010년대, 인도는 사업비 150억 달러를 승인했다. 한화 17조 2,000억원이며, 한국 건국이래 최대 사업이라는 F-21의 18조원과 맞먹는다.

개요

목적 
AMCA는 5세대 전투기이나, 향후 업그레이드를 통해 6세대기로 발전할 목적성을 띄고 있다. 레이더 반사 면적을 줄이기 위한 "S자형" 공기 흡입구, V자 꼬리날개를 도입했고, 신소재인 복합재료를 채택했다. UCAV 및 군집 드론을 제어할 수 있는 선택적으로 유인, 지향성 에너지 무기와 같은 일부 6세대 특성을 갖게 된다. 라팔이 할 수 있는 능력은 모두 가능한 작전기가 된다.

스텔스 
공식적으로 테자스 Mk.2 전투기의 레이더 반사 면적은 0.2m²이다. 1.25m²인 라팔보다 스텔스성이 발전됐다. 당국은 스텔스 능력에 자신을 하고 있는데, 인도는 세계적으로도 수학 강국이며, 풍부한 수학 인재를 갖고 있고 미국 IT 기업들의 수뇌, 인재들도 인도인이 대부분이다. 인도 당국은 스텔스 형상 향상 연구에 집중하고 있고, 최신 스텔스 기술이 적용되어 5.5세대 전투기로도 볼 수 있는 구석도 있다.

항전 
AMCA는 상황 인식을 높이고 AMCA에 탑재된 첨단 전자전(EW) 제품군과 협력하기 위해 인공 지능(AI) 지원 다중 센서 데이터 융합과 함께 수동 센서를 배포할 것으로 예상된다. 또 한, AMCA에는 GaN 기술을 사용 하는 Uttam AESA 레이더의 업그레이드 버젼이 탑재된다. Uttam보다 더 크기가 크고 성능이 개선된 레이더로 무장한다.

조종석 
최신 미국 항공기는 디스플레이를 보고 버튼을 조작하는데 익숙한 일명 '닌텐도 세대'인 21세기 조종사들을 위해 터치 디스플레이 환경을 도입했다. 러시아도 Su-75로서 트렌드를 따라가고 있고, AMCA 역시 와이드 파노라마 터치스크린 디스플레이를 사용한다.

무장 
내부무장창을 채택한 5세대 전투기이기 때문에, 스텔스 작전 중에는 아스트라 (유도탄), 스마트폭탄 등의 화기를 내부무장하는게 가능하다.

네트워크전·드론 
4차 산업혁명 시기의 트렌드에 맞춰서 미래 전장도 네트워크화, 드론화가 급속도로 빨라지고 있다. 5.5세대, 6세대기들의 공통 조건으로 UCAV 및 군집 드론을 제어하는 능력이 부각되고 있는 때, 인도 당국도 투자를 아끼지 않고 있다. 세계의 차세대 전투기들인 F-3 심신, Su-57, J-20, FCAS 모두 유인기 1대 + 무인기 2대~4대 구성으로 작전할 수 있는 능력을 연구 중이다. F-3의 경우엔 개발된 F-3의 기체로 똑같은 크기의 유인기, 무인기를 각각 생산할 구상을 했으나, 중국 J-20, 러시아 Su-57이 유인기보다 작은 크기의 스텔스 무인공격기를 따로 개발해서 파트너 드론을 구성하는 것처럼 트렌드를 따르기로 계획을 수정했다. 일본,미국,러시아,중국 다음가는 기초과학강국인 인도는 군사위성, GPS위성의 확보도 예정돼 있어서 인도가 독자적으로 운용하거나 인도의 동맹관계에 있는 국가가 쓸 AMCA도 인도형 네트워크전 시스템의 효과를 맛볼 수 있다.

제원 

 이름 : 인도형 고등중형전투기(AMCA)
 조종인원 : 1명
 길이 : 18m
 높이 : 4.8m
 날개 면적 : 39.9 m 2
 공허 중량 : 11,000kg
 총중량 : 18,000kg
 최대이륙중량 : 25,000kg (추정)
 연료 중량 : 6,500kg
 엔진 : 2 x 제너럴 일렉트릭 F414
 항전 : Uttam GaN AESA Radar
 무장 : 23mm GSh-23 기관포,

아스트라 (유도탄), 브라모스 순항미사일, 스마트폭탄

Uttam Radar

Uttam AESA 
GaAs 반도체로 제조된 레이더이다. T/M 모듈 768개로 라팔 초기형인 RBE-2 AESA 레이더의 900개와 비교된다. 전투기 표적을 250km 거리를 탐색할 수 있다. 100시간의 테스트를 마쳤고, 3.6kW가 최대출력인 저출력, 경전투기에 적합한 전투기이기에 테자스기에 탑재될 것으로 추정된다. 공식적인 수치로는 1m² 크기의 레이더 반사 면적의 공중 표적을 170km 거리에서 탐색해낸다. 랩터(200km), 라이트닝(160km), 바이퍼 제로 카이(175km)와 비교되는 수치다.

Uttam AESA Mk2 
GaN 반도체로 제조된 레이더이다. T/M 모듈 1,280개로 늘어났으며 전투기 표적을 400km 거리서 탐색할 수 있다. 1,000개 이상의 TRM을 보유하고 있기 때문에, Zhuk-AE, KLJ7보다 높은 급이다.

5세대 전투기 

2013년 현재 5세대 전투기는 세가지로 분류된다.
 대형 쌍발엔진 스텔스 전투기: 미국 F-22, 러시아 수호이 T-50 PAK FA, 중국 J-20
 대형 단발엔진 스텔스 전투기: 미국 F-35
 중형 쌍발엔진 스텔스 전투기: 일본의 미쓰비시 ATD-X, 인도 AMCA, 중국 J-31, J-XX

같이 보기 
 힌두스탄 항공사(:en:Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, HAL)
 5세대 전투기

각주 

HAL 항공기
인도의 전투기
쌍발 제트기
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