Now Reading: India lags in fifth-generation fighter race as Turkey surges
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India lags in fifth-generation fighter race as Turkey surges
Turkey's KAAN fifth-generation fighter has completed powered taxi trials with its P1 prototype, following the maiden flight of the P0 demonstrator in early 2024. Ankara expects initial deliveries by 2028 and full…
The Story in Brief
Turkey's KAAN fifth-generation fighter has completed powered taxi trials with its P1 prototype, following the maiden flight of the P0 demonstrator in early 2024. Ankara expects initial deliveries by 2028 and full production in the early 2030s, using an aggressive multi-prototype strategy and indigenous radar development.
India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, in contrast, remains at the design stage with no prototype built. The first flight is unlikely before the early 2030s, delayed by engine selection issues, slow stealth material progress, and a stalled engine deal with the US. The bid deadline for the programme has been extended to the end of this month.
The Indian Opinion
The usual narrative blames India's defence bureaucracy for the AMCA lag, but Turkey's progress shows what sustained political will and parallel prototyping can achieve. India's caution on engine deals is understandable given past technology-denial experiences, but the cost of delay is growing. The real test will be whether the engine agreement with the US is signed this year and whether the AMCA prototype phase can be compressed. Without those, the gap will keep widening.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
