Aerospace

By 2028, India’s AMCA fifth-generation fighter jet prototype may fly.

India has been competing with numerous other countries in the development of a fifth-generation fighter jet.

India has been competing with numerous other countries in the development of a fifth-generation fighter jet. It is ready to launch with the first fifth-generation fighter plane produced in India and is awaiting the financing to be released. According to Outlook, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s first prototype fifth-generation fighter jet, would undergo a Critical Design Review (CDR) procedure in December.

According to representatives of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), a part of India’s Defence Research and Development Organization, the plan then needs approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) (DRDO). The CCS will soon approve the AMCA, according to media reports.

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“Once the project approval is secured, the first prototype may be put out in three years, and the maiden flight can be in one to one and a half years after that,” AMCA Project Director AK Ghosh said at the just concluded Defence Expo, where a model of the AMCA was shown last week. This timeline indicates that the AMCA will take to the skies for the first time in 2028.

Along with choices about the defense budget, the CCS, which reports to the Cabinet Secretariat, is in charge of making significant appointments and decisions regarding matters of national security.

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The CDR attempts to finish the analysis, simulations, drawings, and testing in order to finalize designs.

Most of the indigenous products for the Tejas Mark 2 are also being developed by HAL and DRDO, such as the Pilot ejection seat and the Mid Air Refueling knob, which will aid the AMCA project greatly if they are successful.

The Tejas Mark 2 is slated to fly for the first time early next year, likely concurrently with its involvement in the AMCA, which will be India’s most eagerly anticipated project. Many other nations, including the USA, the UK, and Japan, have expressed a desire to participate in the development. Additionally, engine manufacturers Safran, GE, and Rolls Royce are also interested in collaborating on AMCA projects.

Rolls Royce in talks with DRDO to rev up AMCA engines(Opens in a new browser tab)

The AMCA would be a stealth fighter jet weighing 25 tonnes that had twin engines and an internal weapons bay. A Driverless Supersonic Intake, which was created for the first time in India, will also be included. It is useful to compress the air that prevents Mach speed breach while directing boundary layer airflow away from the aircraft’s engine, doing so without the need for a splitter plate.

The aircraft’s radar cross-section can be reduced by the internal weapons bay, which has a payload capacity of 1500 kg, an exterior payload of 5,500 kg, and an internal fuel capacity of 6,500 kg. This will increase the stealth of the aircraft.

Aerospace

EASA Ends Suspension on PIA, Approves Flights to Europe

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The suspension of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from operating in Europe is finally over, marking a significant turning point for Pakistan’s aviation sector.

After years of scrutiny and stringent safety assessments, the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have officially lifted the ban on PIA. This decision also grants Airblue authorization to operate flights to Europe, further enhancing Pakistan’s connectivity with the region.

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PIA’s suspension, initially imposed in June 2020, was a direct consequence of concerns regarding the oversight capabilities of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). These concerns were triggered shortly after a tragic PIA plane crash that claimed 97 lives, prompting an investigation into the validity of pilot licenses issued in the country.

Now, after four years of continuous efforts and reforms by the PCAA, EASA has expressed renewed confidence in Pakistan’s aviation regulatory framework. In a statement, EASA highlighted that Pakistan has successfully addressed safety compliance issues, enabling PIA to resume its operations within the European Union.

A spokesperson for PIA expressed optimism, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to strictly adhere to EASA’s regulations and guidelines. “This milestone has been achieved after four years of relentless efforts by the PIA management,” the spokesperson said.

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The lifting of the ban is expected to have a profound impact on PIA’s future. The airline, which employs over 7,000 people, has faced criticism in the past for poor management, financial instability, and regulatory challenges.

However, the restoration of European operations is seen as a vital step toward regaining its competitive edge, improving its financial standing, and restoring its reputation on the global stage.

Pakistan’s government, which has been exploring options to privatize the debt-laden national carrier, is hopeful that this development will attract foreign investment and bolster the country’s aviation industry.

With a renewed focus on compliance and safety, PIA is now poised to rebuild its presence in Europe, offering Pakistani travelers and international passengers more connectivity and improved service.