The competition to produce India’s ambitious 5th-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), has intensified with a Larsen & Toubro (L&T)-Bharat Electronics Ltd consortium formally expressing interest in the ₹15,000 crore programme. This marks the first time a private sector-led consortium — outside of the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) — has entered the race to develop and manufacture a platform conceived by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Sources said at least three more bids from leading private players, apart from the HAL, which so far has monopoly in the combat aircraft manufacturing, are expected ahead of the September 30 deadline. One of them is Adani Defence & Aerospace, which is exploring further tie-ups for partici

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