Such a capability would significantly bolster India's power projection and reinforce its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), enhancing its influence over a vast strategic area extending from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Strait, Commander (Retd) Rahul Verma, a veteran of the Indian Navy, stressed.
"One of the most significant advantages of a fifth-generation fighter is its ability to reduce the sensor-to-shooter cycle, allowing faster target acquisition and engagement. When integrated into a network-centric warfare environment alongside platforms like the MQ-9B Sea Guardian and P-8I Poseidon, the fighter can leverage real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data for precision strikes. The seamless data-sharing among these assets significantly enhances maritime domain awareness and targeting capabilities," Verma told Sputnik India on Friday.
By operating within a networked battlespace, a fifth-generation naval fighter would act as both a force multiplier and a key enabler of distributed lethality, ensuring India’s maritime forces maintain dominance over the IOR’s air and sea domains, Verma asserted.
"With the increasing presence of advanced carrier-based aircraft in the Indo-Pacific, a next-generation fighter will enhance India's ability to project power, enforce sea control, and counter emerging threats," he said in a conversation with Sputnik India.
Developing a common airframe and systems architecture for both air force and naval variants would enable cost-effective production, streamlined maintenance, and logistical efficiency. This approach would also enhance interoperability within the Indian military’s joint operational framework, ensuring seamless integration across different forces, Verma explained.
A key enabler of India's fifth-generation fighter vision is the synergy between government organizations and private industry. By combining the agility and innovation of private firms with the strategic vision and resources of public-sector giants like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and DRDO, India can accelerate development, enhance technological sophistication, and boost defense self-reliance, he suggested.
Public-private partnerships would introduce advanced manufacturing practices, cutting-edge R&D, and streamlined supply chain management, ensuring that India's fifth-generation fighter program remains globally competitive. This collaboration would also drive knowledge transfer, skill development, and the creation of high-tech jobs, strengthening India's defense industrial ecosystem, he added.
"In the long term, the AMCA program will foster a robust defense industrial ecosystem in India, supporting the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). This strategic investment would not only enhance India's maritime defense posture but also contribute to its emergence as a regional aerospace power, capable of meeting future security challenges in the IOR and beyond," the defence analyst underscored.
While naval fighters require specific modifications for carrier-based operations, the AMCA’s development will significantly cut down the timeline and technical risks involved in building a deck-based stealth fighter for the Indian Navy, Banerjee concluded.