India to Join Global Sixth-Generation Fighter Project: CDS General Chauhan

India is likely to join one of the two global sixth-generation fighter jet projects, while no decision has been taken yet on the indigenous fifth-generation combat aircraft.

India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan informed a Parliamentary Committee on Defence that the nation was considering becoming a part of either of the two consortia building the sixth-generation fighters.

“We should not be left behind in such matters. Efforts are on to ensure that we become a part of one of the consortia and start thinking about sixth-generation fighters from now on,” General Chauhan said.

While one of the consortia has the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan as members, the other project has France and Germany.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence report with the details of General Chauhan’s comments was tabled in parliament on Wednesday (March 18, 2026).

Sixth-generation fighter jets are at the moment in a conception stage, with their features including advanced stealth, Artificial Intelligence, and the ability to seamlessly work with unmanned aerial vehicles.

The sixth-generation fighters are to replace the currently operational fifth-generation combat jets, such as the American F-35, Russian Su-57, and Chinese J-20 jets.

Regarding the Indian fifth-generation combat jet under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, General Chauhan told the parliamentary panel that the design and development of the fighter plane were ready, and discussions on the manufacturing of the AMCA were being considered for a final decision.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to induct six squadrons of AMCA from 2035. The IAF is at present down from its sanctioned 42.5 fighter squadrons to less than 30 squadrons following the retirement of the Soviet-era and Russian-origin MiG jets.

While the procurement programme for 114 Rafale fighters to meet the 4.5-generation aircraft requirements, IAF is also considering buying a few squadrons of the fifth-generation fighters, with two options in the American F-35 and Russian Su-57 on the table.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army informed the parliamentary panel that it was fully prepared to address the evolving character of hybrid warfare, encompassing both kinetic and conventional war fighting, and non-kinetic warfare that included cyber, electronic, information, and space.

The Indian Army said on the kinetic warfare front, the force maintained a high state of operational readiness along the borders through sustained training, realistic field exercises, infrastructure development, and capability enhancement.

It said modernisation efforts included the induction of advanced weapon systems, precision-strike munitions, networked communications, surveillance platforms, and improved mobility.

Sustained force modernisation and restructuring initiatives led to new organisational structures and validation of concepts under theatre-level exercises through enhanced rapid mobilisation and combined arms synergy, the parliamentary committee report said.

On the non-kinetic warfare front, the Indian Army recognised the growing salience of hybrid threats and strengthened capabilities in cyber and electronic warfare, spectrum management, counter-drone systems, and information warfare.