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In a major push towards indigenous defence manufacturing, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have announced a strategic partnership to participate in India’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The two defence majors, each from the public and private sectors, will jointly respond to the Expression of Interest (EoI) floated by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) for the Indian Air Force’s AMCA project. The partnership will combine L&T’s strengths in strategic defence platforms and systems integration with BEL’s long-standing expertise in defence electronics and avionics.
“The consortium will participate in the Expression of Interest notice issued by Government of India’s (GoI) Aeronautical Development Agency, by way of submitting a response in the coming weeks,” L&T statement stated.
The AMCA, designed as a stealth-capable multirole fighter, is central to India’s long-term airpower modernisation strategy and is seen as a technological leap beyond the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Both L&T and BEL have played key roles in the LCA programme, supplying critical aerostructures, avionics, and electronic systems. The new consortium is expected to leverage this experience to support the next phase of indigenous combat aircraft development.
“This collaboration with BEL marks a significant leap in our commitment to the modernisation of India’s defence capabilities,” said S. N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of L&T. “Our combined efforts will play a crucial role in bolstering national security and advancing self-reliance in defence technologies.”
Manoj Jain, Chairman & Managing Director of BEL, called the AMCA project a defining step for India’s aerospace sector. “With L&T’s engineering and systems integration capabilities and BEL’s expertise in defence electronics, we are confident of delivering a world-class solution that will serve the Indian Air Force for decades to come,” he said.
The partnership comes as the government advances its Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing, aiming to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers for critical technologies. Defence analysts note that industry-led partnerships, such as L&T–BEL, will be crucial for the AMCA to transition from the design stage to full-scale production.
If successful, the collaboration could mark one of the most significant milestones yet in India’s quest for a self-reliant aerospace ecosystem.
Team BharatShakti
