India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk2 induction faces a potential slip to 2040 due to protracted validation of the indigenous 120 kN engine, jointly developed by DRDO’s GTRE and France’s Safran. Key dates include engine deal clearance expected in 2026, first ground run in 2032, prototype trials in 2032-33, and full certification beyond 2037-38, as reported on December 12, 2025. To bridge Indian Air Force capability gaps amid retiring Mirage-2000s and MiG-29s, options under review involve scaling up AMCA Mk1 procurement with GE F414 engines (98 kN) and retrofitting early Mk2 airframes for plug-and-play compatibility. From New Delhi’s strategic lens, this propulsion bottleneck—mirroring global fifth-gen challenges—heightens vulnerability against China’s J-20 fleet, demanding accelerated self-reliance and diversified partnerships to safeguard regional air superiority by the mid-2030s.