Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have entered a strategic alliance to back India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, a fifth-generation stealth fighter being developed for the Air Force.
The consortium will bid on the Aeronautical Development Agency’s upcoming Expression of Interest, putting forward proposals for design, development, and systems integration of the aircraft.
The collaboration combines L&T’s long track record in defence aerospace with BEL’s expertise in electronics, avionics, and mission systems. Both firms have previously contributed aero-structural modules and advanced avionics to earlier defence projects.
Prototypes of the AMCA are expected by 2027, marking a decisive step toward building a homegrown stealth fighter. BEL, a Navratna PSU under the Defence Ministry, already has a portfolio of more than 600 systems in service.
This partnership is seen as a milestone in India’s march toward defence self-reliance, aiming to deliver an indigenously designed and produced fifth-generation combat aircraft.
