The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has transferred advanced thermal management technologies to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The move is expected to help establish production capabilities for critical systems required in the country’s fifth-generation stealth fighter project.
The technology transfer focuses on specialised cooling solutions that will support the manufacturing of key AMCA components, including airframe structures and advanced avionics. By equipping BHEL with these technologies at an early stage, India is laying the foundation for efficient large-scale production as the programme advances toward prototype and serial manufacturing.
Thermal management is one of the most important engineering challenges in fifth-generation combat aircraft. Modern stealth fighters generate significant heat from high-performance engines, electronic warfare suites, radar systems, onboard computers, and internal weapon bays. Effective cooling systems are essential to maintain operational reliability, enhance component life, preserve stealth characteristics, and ensure optimal aircraft performance during demanding missions.
The AMCA programme represents India’s flagship effort to develop an indigenous fifth-generation multirole fighter aircraft. Designed with stealth features, internal weapon bays, advanced sensor fusion, and an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the aircraft is intended to provide the Indian Air Force with next-generation combat capabilities while reducing reliance on imported fighter platforms.
BHEL’s participation expands the role of India’s public-sector defence manufacturing ecosystem in the AMCA project. With extensive expertise in precision engineering and large-scale industrial production, the company will support the manufacturing of specialised components using the newly transferred thermal management technologies. The collaboration is expected to improve production readiness and accelerate the transition from technology development to manufacturing.
India’s indigenous approach to the AMCA programme places strong emphasis on building domestic design, engineering, and production capabilities. Instead of depending extensively on foreign suppliers for critical technologies, the programme seeks to develop and manufacture key systems within the country, strengthening long-term technological self-reliance and safeguarding sensitive defence capabilities.
The AMCA is expected to become a cornerstone of the Indian Air Force’s future combat fleet. Alongside platforms such as the Tejas light combat aircraft and the Rafale, the indigenous stealth fighter is planned to play a central role in India’s air power strategy over the coming decades while supporting the country’s broader defence modernisation and self-reliance objectives.
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