L&T, BEL to join hands for stealth fighter
The deadline for public and private sector firms to respond to the expressions of interest (EoI) is September 30
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with the state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to pursue the development of India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, adding that the collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing the country’s defence capabilities in sync with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision.
The consortium will now submit a response to a call for expressions of interest (EoI) by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) for building prototypes and supporting flight test and certification of the indigenous stealth fighter or the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project.
The deadline for public and private sector firms to respond to the EoI is September 30.
“The partnership will leverage L&T’s expertise in developing strategic defence and aerospace platforms, along with BEL’s experience in defence electronics and systems, to jointly contribute to India’s 5th-generation fighter aircraft,” L&T said in a statement.
The ADA invited EOI in June to shortlist Indian companies to kick-start the stealth fighter project, weeks after the defence ministry unveiled its long-awaited plan to fast-track the development of AMCA and announced that the execution model will be competitive and provide equal opportunities to public and private sector firms. The ADA, which comes under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is executing the programme through industry partnership.
The L&T-BEL combine will compete with other firms eyeing the project.
{{/usCountry}}The L&T-BEL combine will compete with other firms eyeing the project.
{{/usCountry}}“Reputed Indian companies experienced in the aerospace and defence sector with capability to absorb the design of AMCA and have adequate experience in the field of development & engineering, manufacturing, equipping, integration, testing, quality management, customer support etc will be shortlisted,” the EoI states.
{{/usCountry}}“Reputed Indian companies experienced in the aerospace and defence sector with capability to absorb the design of AMCA and have adequate experience in the field of development & engineering, manufacturing, equipping, integration, testing, quality management, customer support etc will be shortlisted,” the EoI states.
{{/usCountry}}After evaluating the responses to the EOI, ADA will issue a request for quotation to the firms and evaluate their responses before negotiating a contract with one of them for building five prototypes and one structural test specimen. The entity must be capable of setting up a manufacturing facility for the series production of AMCA, and the duration of the contract for development, prototyping, flight test and certification should not exceed eight years. The first prototype is expected to make its maiden flight in 2029, and AMCA’s development is likely to be completed by 2034 before it enters production a year later.
{{/usCountry}}After evaluating the responses to the EOI, ADA will issue a request for quotation to the firms and evaluate their responses before negotiating a contract with one of them for building five prototypes and one structural test specimen. The entity must be capable of setting up a manufacturing facility for the series production of AMCA, and the duration of the contract for development, prototyping, flight test and certification should not exceed eight years. The first prototype is expected to make its maiden flight in 2029, and AMCA’s development is likely to be completed by 2034 before it enters production a year later.
{{/usCountry}}By combining the strengths of the two leading defence technology providers, the partnership seeks to deliver a cutting-edge, high- quality solution, L&T said.
“The collaboration with BEL marks a significant leap in our commitment to the modernisation of India’s defence capabilities. We are honoured to be working with BEL to deliver next-generation technologies for the Indian Air Force,” L&T chairman S N Subrahmanyan said.
The approval of the industry partnership model in May by defence minister Rajnath Singh came at a critical moment as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) --- the sole manufacturer of fighter jets in the country --- was till then believed to be the front-runner for the project. The execution model has unlocked new possibilities for the local aerospace industry, including firms such as L&T, Adani Defence and Aerospace, the Mahindra Group and Tata Advanced Systems Limited.
As many as 28 private sector firms have lined up to partner with HAL for the AMCA project, and the aircraft maker has formed a committee to draw up a shortlist of a maximum of two companies to form a consortium to pursue one of the country’s most significant military projects, as first reported by HT.
The firms have submitted their responses to the requirements outlined by HAL in a recent tender for a possible partnership to participate in the AMCA competition. HAL will finalise the private sector player it plans to work with after the panel submits its report.
“In the past, L&T and BEL have played a pivotal role in India’s indigenous light combat aircraft programme by supplying major aero-structure modules and developing mission-critical avionics and electronic systems. Building on this legacy, the consortium will bring proven expertise and commitment to timely delivery of world-class defence and aerospace platforms for the IAF,” L&T added.
Speeding up the AMCA programme is critical as China has already deployed the J-20 fifth-generation fighters, it is rolling out the J-35 stealth fighters that Pakistan is looking at buying, and it has tested two so-called sixth-generation platforms designated J-36 and J-50.
Last year, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the AMCA’s design and prototype development at a cost of around ₹15,000 crore. The IAF’s modernisation map envisages the deployment of around 120 stealth fighters (six squadrons) 2035 onwards.
The first two squadrons will consist of the Mk-1 version powered by the American F-414 engines, while the rest will have the more advanced Mk-2 version equipped with an even more powerful engine to be built in India with French collaboration. The government is likely to soon approve a joint project involving French firm Safran and India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a lab under the DRDO, to develop and produce a 120-kilonewton thrust class engine to power the AMCA. The Safran-GTRE combine, HT learns, will develop nine prototypes in a time frame of 12 years, with 100% transfer of technology and intellectual property rights to India.
