Around 3 months after India launched an open call for domestic defence firms to develop its first home-grown fifth-generation stealth fighter jet – the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) – Larsen & Toubro and leading defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have joined hands for the same.
L&T and BEL have formed a strategic consortium to support the Indian Air Force’s AMCA programme. The two defence majors will jointly respond to the Expression of Interest (EoI) floated by the Government of India’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in the coming weeks.
A formal expression of interest (EOI) by the ADA was uploaded in June 2025 to identify firms capable of co-developing and manufacturing the aircraft’s prototypes, and assisting in its flight testing and certification.
L&T-BEL collaboration: How will it strengthen the AMCA project?
The partnership aims to blend L&T’s proven expertise in strategic defence and aerospace platforms with BEL’s decades-long experience in defence electronics and systems. Together, they intend to deliver a robust, high-quality solution for India’s first indigenous 5th-generation fighter aircraft.
The collaboration reflects India’s larger vision of building an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence. By pooling resources and know-how from two of the country’s leading defence technology providers, the consortium will not only accelerate AMCA development but also bolster India’s standing as a global aerospace power.
Worth mentioning here is that both the giants have played critical roles in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, supplying major aero-structure modules, avionics, and electronic systems. This legacy of timely delivery and technical excellence will now extend to the AMCA initiative.
What’s next for the consortium?
With the EoI submission lined up, the L&T–BEL consortium is positioning itself as a key player in the AMCA’s development roadmap. If successful, the partnership could mark a defining moment in India’s push towards self-reliant, next-generation air power.
AMCA project: How it positions India against other 5th-gen fighter programmes?
The AMCA project is India’s answer to the global race for 5th-generation fighter aircraft—dominated by the US F-35 Lightning II, China’s J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” and Russia’s Su-57 Felon. While these platforms are already in service or at advanced deployment stages, AMCA represents India’s bid to join the elite club of nations with indigenous stealth fighter capability.
BEL CMD Manoj Jain said, “The AMCA project showcases India’s growing prowess in defence technology. Our collaboration with L&T will combine engineering and defence electronics excellence to deliver a world-class fighter platform for the Indian Air Force.”
Meanwhile, defence minister Rajnath Singh had on May 27, 2025 approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft Programme Execution Model.