By 2019, the programme faced multiple delays while India pulled out from the Indo-Russian FGFA development project which was for a different weight category.

[21] As of 2022, after multiple delays, the Ministry of Defence was seeking approval of from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for the prototype development phase.

[16] The design work was completed in 2023, and approval for the ₹15,000 crore (US$1.7 billion) project for prototype development was received from CCS in March 2024.

[25][26] A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) consisting of ADA, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and a private company is being formed for the development and production of AMCA.

[1] As of December 2014, ADA had plans to issue an request for proposal (RfP) to six original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), by April 2015, for co-development of an afterburning low-bypass turbofan of the 110kN thrust class.

[30] On 15 July 2023, India and France agreed to collaborate for the joint development of a combat aircraft engine, which would power the Mark-2 variant of AMCA as part of the Horizon 2047 document for India-France strategic partnership.

A roadmap for this project will be prepared between French firm Safran and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) before the end of 2023.

[31][32] On 18 November 2023, Dr. Samir V. Kamat of DRDO announced that the United States has provided the necessary permits, opening the door for GE Aerospace and HAL to jointly produce the General Electric F414 engine in India for HAL Tejas Mark 2 and for the first two squadrons of AMCA.

[33][34] As of September 2024, foreign firms who offered joint venture development includes the US-origin General Electric, UK-origin Rolls-Royce and French-origin Safran.

In October 2024, Safran and HAL also signed an MoU to develop industrial cooperation in forging parts’ manufacturing for commercial engines.

[29] In an interview given in 2020, the then Air Force Chief R. K. S. Bhadauria stated that "The planning process is already underway for combat systems like optionally manned sixth generation technologies, smart wingman concept, swarm drones, long persistent HALE (High-Altitude Long Endurance) platforms and hypersonic weapons, among others.

[5] At present, the AMCA is planned as a fifth generation fighter but will integrate emerging, best-of-breed sixth-generation technologies over time.

[42] A leading-edge root extension (LERX), which is a small fillet, is situated on the front section of the intake and wings of the aircraft.

It has a typically roughly rectangular shape, running forward from the leading edge of the wing root to a point along the fuselage.

The AMCA will have some sixth generation characteristics such as an optionally crewed, directed energy weapons, capable of controlling UCAVs, and swarm drones.

[43][39] The AMCA design has inherent radar stealth, achieved through twin-tail layout,[14] platform edge alignment and serration, body conformal antenna and low intercept radar, diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) with serpentine ducts which conceal engine fan blades, internal weapons bay and extensive use of composites in airframe.

[16] On November 26, 2024, IIT Kanpur introduced Anālakṣhya, a Meta-material Surface Cloaking System (MSCS) for multi-spectral camouflage.

The Meta-material Microwave Absorber improves stealth capabilities against Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging by wave absorption across a wide spectrum.

Meta Tattva Systems is the licensee of the technology for industrial production and is currently under acquisition by the Indian Armed Forces.

[28] AMCA will be equipped with a larger and powerful variant of the Uttam AESA Radar which will use gallium nitride (GaN) technology.

[58] Indian Air Force – 7 squadrons, 125 units (expected)[59][60] Specifications can vary as the aircraft is still in development.

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft[61], The Hindu[62]General characteristics Performance Armament Avionics