Will they actually? If they even do which for me is looking unlikely, then they should definitely get it.
If they do bid which I am praying for literally, they should 100% get the contract. They have experience with high stakes military programs as seen in Arihant class assembly. They know what it takes to meet the military's standards. But the entire AMCA programme's future lies in whether they will bid or not! Maybe they will tell MoD to increase order number for Mk1 to above 100 units or something.
I agree but it is a looong game, let's see what happens.
By when do you think this bidding thing will go on until? We need a 5th gen fighter ASAP and first flight will not happen until production partner is chosen AFAIK.
I don't know how the bid will ever be fair.
HAL has all the infrastructure. How can a private entity outbid them?
The Def Sec has said that the govt was ready to 'drown pvt cos in orders', if they invested in R&D. This is meant to address the legit concern about lack of order visibility that pvt cos have aired at CII and other industry forums.
So we may see renewed interest from the Tata's, M&M, Godrej, etc this time around. L&T seems to be focused on the space domain atm w/PSLV assembly and other projects.
Even ADA doesn't want HAL to manufacture it. Show private sector the money and orders and they will outclass HAL in a decade or less. L and T has built a facility for nuclear subs, this is a different beast but still it shows they have the experience needed for handling military grade projects and they have the money to set up the infrastructure. Imo they should even poach some (bright) HAL employees and bring them over to quickly iron out any issues.
Good let it be anyone of Tata, M and M or Godrej except HAL.
Though Tata has built up significant experience via assembling S-92, Apache and C-295 airframes, they'd still need hand holding from HAL wrt overall systems integration. It will likely be a JV. Ideally, the govt should offer PLI for pvt sector cos to participate in Mk2 and AMCA projects in a big way.
I don't think you understand the question. HAL possesses all the necessary infrastructure, which means that infra costs are not incurred by them. However, a private entity would need to make investments in setting up the entire production line infrastructure.
best way would be to go ahead with prototypes with hal and then production with pvt partner, if we go with pvt partner for prototypes then wit for 2030 for prototype
If true than grab the offer without a thought..... This engine is one of a kind beast with 180 KW output & with two engines that's 360 KW 
Strategic shift beyond US: India seeks new allies for next-gen fighter jets
India is actively engaging with manufacturers from the UK, France, and Japan to co-develop fighter jet engines, broadening its defense ties beyond the US as it faces mounting security challenges and looks to shore up its indigenous aerospace capabilities, a Bloomberg report said. Senior officials told Bloomberg that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will evaluate these proposals, with the aim to start the project swiftly.The countries in talks-UK’s Rolls-Royce, France’s Safran, and an undisclosed Japanese partner-are all offering technology transfers and potential co-production arrangements, according to people familiar with the matter. Rolls-Royce offered to jointly produce and transfer technology to India during a visit by senior defense ministry officials to the UK in April, while Safran is reportedly open to sharing intellectual property rights, the Bloomberg report said.
Why it matters
India’s push to diversify its fighter jet engine partnerships signals a strategic rebalancing in its defense policy. For decades, India’s defense ties leaned heavily on Russian suppliers, with growing partnerships with the US in the past decade. However, India’s decision to explore new partners highlights a shift: an urgent focus on reliability, supply chain security, and technological self-sufficiency amid global uncertainties.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh warned at an industry event on Thursday that delays in acquiring critical weapons “pose a serious challenge to national defense readiness,” adding bluntly, “Not for a single project that I can think of that has been completed on time.” His remarks underscore why India is moving beyond a single-source approach, especially after penalties were imposed on General Electric for delivery delays on engines that power India’s locally-made Tejas light combat jets.
The broader context
India’s military modernization push has been a long time coming, with delays plaguing every step of the way. Singh’s remarks-“once a timeline is given… not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time”-reflect growing impatience within India’s defense establishment.
State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has faced flak for delays in delivering Tejas Mark-1A jets, forcing the government to pivot to private sector involvement to speed things up. The new execution model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is a radical shift, designed to harness private innovation and global expertise while ending HAL’s monopoly on fighter production.
The big picture
India’s ambition is to power its twin-engine fifth-generation fighter jets-currently under the AMCA project-with engines co-developed or built domestically in collaboration with global partners. The AMCA program is part of India’s larger vision to modernize its aging, largely Russian-made air force fleet and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
Defense minister Rajnath Singh has approved a new “execution model” for the AMCA, which for the first time allows private sector firms to bid for the project alongside the HAL. Officials say the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which is leading the project, will soon issue an expression of interest to domestic and international players.
The project’s significance is clear: China’s rapidly advancing J-20 and rumored sixth-generation jets have raised alarm bells in Delhi. Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to acquire at least 40 Chinese J-35A fifth-generation fighters. With only 30 active fighter squadrons against an authorized strength of 42, India needs to catch up-and quickly.
What they are saying
Michael Rubin, a South Asia analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, described India’s drive as part of a “broader effort to secure the supply chain for critical defense equipment.” He noted that the “military lesson from Ukraine’s war has been clear: self-sufficiency and reliable partnerships are paramount.”
Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh emphasized in his CII Business Summit remarks, “We need to quickly get our act together… while design in India continues to produce results in the near future or maybe later, what is required today is required today.”
Zoom in
India’s defense collaborations are moving from traditional vendor relationships to true joint development. Rolls-Royce, for example, offered to share cutting-edge engine technology, while Safran has expressed willingness to co-create intellectual property within India-key for India’s ambitions to be more than just an assembly hub.
Japan, too, has signaled openness to deeper defense industrial ties, aligning with India’s vision of a broader Indo-Pacific security network. Defence minister Rajnath Singh held talks in May with his Japanese counterpart, exploring potential collaborations in tank and aero engine development.
Between the lines
These moves do not indicate a cooling of India-US ties-joint manufacturing of GE’s F414 engines is still a cornerstone of Indo-US defense cooperation. But delays in that deal have prompted India to cast a wider net, underscoring that while Washington remains a top partner, India wants alternatives to hedge against risks.
Indeed, India’s engagement with the UK, France, and Japan is about more than just hardware-it’s about building strategic resilience in the defense sector. A senior official involved in the negotiations said the goal is not to sideline US defense ties but “to ensure we have multiple options, as this is about national security.”
What’s next
India aims to finalise the AMCA’s prototype phase by developing five aircraft before moving to series production.
For the first two AMCA squadrons, India will rely on the US-made GE F414 engines. But for the remaining five squadrons-over 100 jets-it wants more powerful 110-kilonewton engines built with technology partners outside the US, according to the officials.
India’s broader defense transformation, its AMCA program, and its engagement with multiple global players highlight a fundamental truth: for New Delhi, defense self-reliance and resilient supply chains are no longer optional-they are non-negotiable in a rapidly changing world.
As usual, these clickbaiters are making things up based on TOI report. They made their own storyline. It never mentioned the engine or entity.If true than grab the offer without a thought..... This engine is one of a kind beast with 180 KW output & with two engines that's 360 KW
'Let Pakistan get J 20s': Ex IAF chief rules out interim imports, says focus must be on AMCA - BusinessToday
India must focus on developing countermeasures and air defence strategies to manage emerging threats, says Bhadauria
Asked if India should consider importing fifth-generation fighter jets in the interim—especially as Pakistan is likely to acquire China’s J-20 or even J-35 equivalents—Bhadauria firmly ruled it out. "My answer is no. Now, the government has clearly put their faith in AMCA, and now we need to do everything as a nation to expedite the AMCA," he said.
"That cause of concern in terms of what Pakistan is going to get from China in the interim - be it J20 or J-35 - let them get these. That will be studied. What is important is in the interim how do you handle these threats and there are ways and means of tackling this threat that they will have."
"In terms of stealth capability Pakistan is likely to get before us, we'll have to take some other measures in order to be able to detect by some means, to be able to still hold them off our borders much inside so that they are unable to launch," he said. "And should they be able to launch their cruise missiles or their standoff weapons, we are able to tackle the weapons."
Weird that ACM Bhadauria read my posts.
@Parthu
The current ACM's views are slighlty different. He is open to 'off-the -shelf' buy of an imported 5th gen but with India optimized modifications/changes. I still think that Su-57 is coming in one way or other.'Let Pakistan get J 20s': Ex IAF chief rules out interim imports, says focus must be on AMCA - BusinessToday
India must focus on developing countermeasures and air defence strategies to manage emerging threats, says Bhadauriawww.businesstoday.in
Asked if India should consider importing fifth-generation fighter jets in the interim—especially as Pakistan is likely to acquire China’s J-20 or even J-35 equivalents—Bhadauria firmly ruled it out. "My answer is no. Now, the government has clearly put their faith in AMCA, and now we need to do everything as a nation to expedite the AMCA," he said.
"That cause of concern in terms of what Pakistan is going to get from China in the interim - be it J20 or J-35 - let them get these. That will be studied. What is important is in the interim how do you handle these threats and there are ways and means of tackling this threat that they will have."
"In terms of stealth capability Pakistan is likely to get before us, we'll have to take some other measures in order to be able to detect by some means, to be able to still hold them off our borders much inside so that they are unable to launch," he said. "And should they be able to launch their cruise missiles or their standoff weapons, we are able to tackle the weapons."
Weird that ACM Bhadauria read my posts.
@Parthu
But, quite obviously AMCA+ Rafale + MKI + LCA series is what IAF has planned for between 2030- 2050. So importing a new 5th gen type would be quite out of syllabus for them.
Today there is a news about very precise Air Strikes on 2 underground facilities at Nur Khan and Murid bases
They were close range strikes because Air Defences had been
Previously removed
It is the Air to Surface missiles and bombs that cause Destruction , not the fancy Jets
200 Brahmos will cost only 1 Billion dollars but will paralyse the enemy
The future is in missiles and drones of All types along with Air Defence
We must get the Long Range land attack Cruise missiles into production for mass saturation attacks on Air defences
ACM Singh said that? I think he wants Make in India MRFA.
Some AMs are willing to import Su-57, but the govt's not gonna buy it with a war going on. Plus Russia's not gonna be a reliable supplier until it ends, as we saw with the S-400 delays.