UK-Japan or France-Germany? India weighs options for 6th-gen fighter tie-up

New Delhi: India is looking to work jointly with an international consortium to develop 6th-generation fighter jets, the country's top military officer has said, adding that the two choices are either a UK-Italy-Japan grouping or a France-Germany combine. Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, spoke on India's plans for next generation fighter jets to the parliamentary standing committee on defence, sharing that while design plans for the 5th-generation fighter under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme are complete, discussions are already underway for the next leap in combat aircraft technology.

"For sixth-generation aircraft, two types of consortia are working. One is a consortium of the UK, Italy and Japan, and the other is a consortium of France and Germany. Both are developing aircraft. In this context, so that we do not fall behind, we will try to associate with one of these consortia and start thinking about sixth-generation fighters from now itself," Gen Chauhan told the Parliamentary panel.

While India is still working on a fifth-generation fighter jet, three countries -- the US, China and Russia -- have already operationalised these combat aircraft that are highly stealthy and capable of carrying heavier weapons than legacy fighters. India's AMCA programme seeks to develop a fifth-generation fighter, with three private sector companies already shortlisted to produce the first prototypes.