NEW DELHI: India has officially fired the starting shot in its race to develop a next-generation stealth fighter jet, inviting Indian aerospace firms to help build prototypes of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a project billed as a major leap in indigenous defense capabilities.The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the design and development arm under the ministry of defence, has issued an expression of interest (EOI) to shortlist Indian companies for constructing five prototypes of the AMCA – a fifth-generation, twin-engine stealth fighter with deep-strike capabilities.The AMCA is expected to be a cornerstone of the Indian Air Force alongside the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, with plans to eventually replace aging fleets and reduce dependence on foreign military aircraft.According to the ADA, only Indian-owned and -controlled companies are eligible. Single companies, joint ventures or consortiums with a proven track record in aerospace and defense manufacturing are being encouraged to apply. The selected firm will also be required to establish facilities capable of scaling into full-scale production once the prototype phase is complete.“This is not just about building prototypes,” the ADA said in its official communication. “It’s about identifying a long-term industrial partner capable of absorbing AMCA’s design and preparing for future series production.”The agency has set a strict timeline: all development, testing, and certification of the AMCA must be completed within eight years from the contract’s effective date.The AMCA project is central to India’s push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Once completed, the aircraft is expected to match the capabilities of other fifth-generation fighters like the US F-35 or China’s J-20, boasting stealth technology, advanced avionics, and supercruise capability.