India's sixth-generation fighter dilemma: Join FCAS or GCAP or focus on fifth-gen ACMA amid China's rise

Even as India's pursuit for sixth-generation fighter capabilities is gaining increased urgency in the wake of China's recent advancements in the domain, Germany and Spain extended India an offer to join their Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a project aimed at developing sixth-generation combat aircraft.

A collaborative effort among France, Germany, and Spain, Future Combat Air System comprises a sixth-generation fighter capable of networking with unmanned components, a remote carrier in different weight classes, air combat cloud which connects the next-gen fighter with the remote carrier as well as already existing legacy platforms, and future combat mission system, which aims to streamline decision-making processes through advanced sensors and processing capabilities, ensuring efficient mission execution across various platforms.

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FCAS, which is much more than a network of combat aircraft, is expected to enter into service by 2040. The new generation fighter, which is a next-generation jet with a human pilot, is aided by remote carriers, forming the next generation weapon system. The combat cloud makes sure that all information within the the corresponding network is accessible to everyone involved in the mission.

According to a bulgarianmilitary.com report, the consortium of the UK, Japan and Italy too invited India to be part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) which seeks to revolutionise aerial warfare with the use of advanced technology and strategic partnerships.

Established in 2022, GCAP aims to design, manufacture, and deliver a next-generation crewed combat aircraft.

India is still focused on the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is expected to be inducted into the force by 2030. Meanwhile, a few days ago, China hit headlines when images and videos of a tailless stealth combat jet, believed to be a sixth-generation aircraft, conducting a daytime test flight went viral. The tailless aircraft, said to be at least as long as the 70-feet J-20, was seen alongside a J-20S, the twin-seat variant of China's Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter.

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China's advancements in the domain make it imperative that India develops a robust sixth-generation fighter to maintain regional air superiority in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Nonetheless, according to the report, while India would get access to next-generation tech it New Delhi decides to pick either FCAS or GCAP, it may take focus away from the current fifth-generation programme. Sources has been quoted as saying that India may not take up either of the proposals.

AMCA, featuring single-seat, twin-engine design optimised for stealth and agility, is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).