India to build stealth fighter jets

India has approved a program to build the country’s first advanced twin-engine 5th generation stealth fighter.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program to strengthen India’s aerospace capabilities.  

The Defense Ministry of India said this on Tuesday.

This year saw an increase of 9.5% in its annual budget at $78.70 billion, according to government data.

The program will be undertaken by the state-run Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with industry partners to leverage domestic expertise, skills and resources to build the AMCA prototype.

India, a traditional buyer of Russian military equipment, has over the years diversified its defense procurement, with an emphasis on domestically produced weaponry.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India was one of the top five defense spenders globally, last year.

Source: Agencies