India is contemplating participation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) led by the UK, Italy, and Japan to enhance its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project amid China’s advancements in sixth-generation fighters. This collaboration could streamline engine development, potentially enabling India to align its indigenous 5.5-generation AMCA with cutting-edge capabilities by 2035. However, concerns about compromising self-reliance in defense manufacturing and the balance between international cooperation and indigenous development remain. Ultimately, India must weigh the benefits of technological parity and access to advanced systems against its strategic autonomy and the long-term objective of bolstering its air power in response to regional threats.
