The Indian Aeronautical Development Agency has extended the bid deadline for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program to September 30, 2025, due to a lack of interest from private vendors. Concerns over stringent terms, inadequate profit margins, and the dominance of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) deter firms from committing to the Full-Scale Engineering Development phase. Despite the AMCA’s strategic importance in enhancing India’s air combat capabilities against regional threats, private companies prefer lower-risk tier-supplier roles over full partnership, highlighting challenges in attracting investment and fostering self-reliance in the defense sector. Without addressing these issues, the AMCA’s ambitious timeline could face further delays.