Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is poised to play a crucial role in the development of a new 120 kN thrust engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), collaborating with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) and French manufacturer Safran. HAL, with decades of expertise in aerospace manufacturing, is set to leverage its capabilities to produce advanced internal engine components and integrate them with the AMCA’s stealth airframe. While HAL is traditionally dominant in military aircraft production, it is now forming partnerships with major private firms like Tata Advanced Systems and Adani Defence to accelerate the project, reflecting the government’s push for self-reliance in defense production. The AMCA program is significant not just for enhancing India’s combat capabilities—amidst regional military dynamics shaped by China’s advancements in stealth technology—but also for fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial base. With the first prototype aimed for rollout by 2029 and induction into the Indian Air Force planned by 2035, the AMCA symbolizes India’s strategic autonomy and ambition to emerge as a leading hub for advanced aerospace technology, reducing dependency on foreign military imports and catalyzing broader industrial transformation in the defense sector.