India eyes European sixth-generation fighter jets via GCAP or FCAS programs to counter China by 2035.

India is considering its participation in the two European sixth-generation fighter programs, either the GCAP or the FCAS, to secure access to next-generation air combat systems integrating manned fighters, unmanned platforms, and networked warfare capabilities to sustain air superiority beyond 2035.

The Indian Air Force, currently operating around 29 squadrons against a requirement of 42, is seeking this collaboration as part of its long-term modernization strategy amid delays in AMCA, ongoing fleet retirements, and widening capability gaps against China’s advanced stealth aviation. This initiative reflects a strategic push to reinforce deterrence, accelerate capability acquisition, and ensure interoperability in future high-intensity, multi-domain combat environments..
Germany considers joining Edgewing's GCAP fighter jet program as FCAS tensions grow

India is evaluating its entry either into the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) led by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, or the Franco-German-led Future Combat Air System, known as SCAF. (Picture source: Edgewing and Airbus)

On March 18, 2026, India's Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan confirmed that India is seeking to join one of two European sixth-generation fighter consortia, either the GCAP or the FCAS, in response to measurable capability gaps and projected timelines for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. The Indian Air Force currently operates about 29 fighter squadrons compared to an authorized strength of 42, with no immediate procurement capable of rapidly closing this gap. Retirement of ageing aircraft such as the MiG-21 has reduced available combat mass, while delays in Tejas Mk1A deliveries and the MRFA programme have constrained replenishment.

At the same time, China has two operational stealth fighters, the J-20 and the J-35, and is already testing two sixth-generation fighters, the J-36 and J-50. The future of the Indian Air Force includes a target of 42 squadrons by 2035, though current projections indicate that only 35-36 may be achievable under existing timelines. The Indian Air Force is also restructuring toward a network-centric model that integrates manned aircraft, unmanned systems, and space-based assets. Planned acquisitions include 30-50 UAVs in the near term for specific combat roles, alongside longer-term development of UCAVs such as the Ghatak and swarm systems like ALFA-S. In parallel, India is investing in space capabilities, including a projected constellation exceeding 100 military satellites under a future Space Command structure.

Operational doctrine has already been revised to include space as a core domain, and training pipelines have been adjusted accordingly. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program remains central to the Indian Air Force’s plans, with its design already completed and discussions ongoing regarding manufacturing and industrial organization. The program includes the construction of five stealth fighter prototypes and one structural test article, with a contract expected to be awarded following cost evaluation among competing industrial groups. The first flight is targeted for 2029, with development completion by 2034 and production beginning shortly thereafter. India plans to induct approximately 120 aircraft organized into six squadrons from 2035 onward.

The programme is funded at about ₹15,000 crore ($1.65 billion) for initial development, and includes an initial reliance on imported F-414 engines followed by a higher-thrust 110-120 kN engine co-developed with a French partner. Despite this progress, Indian planners are already looking beyond the AMCA, recognizing that sixth-generation jets are under development globally and will define air superiority in the coming decades. Expected to enter service between the mid-2030s and 2040, these future fighters are being designed as integrated systems combining stealth aircraft, unmanned platforms, artificial intelligence, and advanced sensors within a networked architecture. These systems are intended to operate in contested environments with dense air defense networks and electronic warfare conditions, requiring higher levels of autonomy and data fusion than current platforms.

Therefore, India’s approach seeks to avoid a technological gap emerging after the AMCA induction by securing early involvement in one of the ongoing development programs. The decision is also influenced by the scale of investment required, which makes independent development of a sixth-generation jet economically and technologically challenging, even for the U.S. One of the two options under consideration by India is the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which involves the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. This trilateral effort aims to deliver a sixth-generation combat system with an entry-into-service target in the mid-2030s, integrating a crewed fighter with unmanned systems, advanced sensors, and a digital combat cloud designed for multi-domain operations.

The GCAP programme emphasizes artificial intelligence integration, adaptive propulsion, and high-level sensor fusion to operate in contested environments characterized by dense air defense and electronic warfare. Its industrial structure is based on shared development with sovereign control over critical subsystems, allowing each participant to retain authority over key technologies while contributing to a unified architecture. Financial commitments have increased over time, including €18.6 billion over the development phase for Italy, to secure its role in design, systems integration, and long-term production, reinforcing its position within the programme’s core industrial structure. 

The programme has also pursued an expansion strategy by approaching and engaging potential external partners to distribute development costs and expand its industrial base. Japan had previously explored a cooperation with India, including discussions on joint technology development, which provides a precedent for potential collaboration. The GCAP is designed to distribute industrial workshare while maintaining national control over critical technologies, aligning with India’s requirement for domestic industry participation. Australia and Canada have been approached for possible involvement, as well as Sweden and Portugal. Saudi Arabia, like India, has sought participation with a focus on industrial return, including ambitions to reinvest 50% of its defense spending domestically by 2030, though internal differences among current participants have affected the pace of its integration.

More interestingly, Germany has considered joining the programme amid disputes within the FCAS, including disagreements over workshare and industrial control. For now, the GCAP's timeline positions it as potentially the first operational sixth-generation system among current European programmes. The alternative in Europe, for India, is the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), led by France and Germany with Spain as a partner, targeting service entry around 2040. The programme includes a next-generation fighter, remote carrier drones, and a combat cloud network enabling real-time data exchange across air, land, sea, cyber, and space domains. Industrial organization is based on parity between partners, with Dassault Aviation responsible for the fighter design and Airbus representing German and Spanish interests.

However, disagreements over intellectual property rights, supplier selection, and leadership roles have delayed progress, particularly in the demonstrator phase. Germany has shown interest in revisiting the programme’s structure, including potential changes in leadership distribution. These industrial disputes within FCAS have raised uncertainty about the whole program's timelines and execution, with some stakeholders questioning its viability under current arrangements. Political leadership in France and Germany continues to support continuation, indicating that strategic considerations may override industrial disagreements. The programme was initiated in 2017, with Spain joining later, and is intended to replace existing Rafale and Eurofighter fleets from 2040 onward. India’s existing defense relationship with France, including procurement of Rafale jets and cooperation on engine development, creates a pathway for potential integration into FCAS if governance issues are resolved. India’s evaluation of both GCAP and FCAS will therefore reflect a cost-benefit calculation balancing access to advanced technologies, industrial participation, and long-term strategic autonomy in combat aviation.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.