BENGALURU: Engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has entered into a strategic partnership with defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to support the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) — a fifth generation fighter aircraft — programme for the Indian Air Force.The consortium will respond to the Expression of Interest (EoI) notice issued by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in the coming weeks.

According to the companies, the tie-up will bring together L&T’s strength in defence and aerospace platforms with BEL’s long-standing expertise in defence electronics and systems. Together, they aim to contribute to India’s 5th-generation fighter aircraft project, seen as a cornerstone in the country’s indigenous defence push.“The collaboration with BEL marks a significant leap in our commitment to the modernisation of India’s defence capabilities. Both organisations are leaders in our respective domains and our combined efforts will play a crucial role in bolstering national security and advancing self-reliance in defence technologies,” L&T CMD SN Subrahmanyan, said.BEL CMD Manoj Jain stressed on the importance of the project for India’s technological ambitions. “The AMCA project represents India’s growing capabilities in defence technology. With L&T’s engineering and systems integration capabilities and BEL’s expertise in defence electronics, we are confident of delivering a world-class solution that will serve the Indian Air Force for decades to come,” he said.Both companies have a history of collaboration, having played key roles in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme — with L&T supplying aero-structure modules and BEL developing mission-critical avionics and electronic systems.“Building on that legacy, the new consortium promises proven expertise, technology integration and timely delivery for India’s most ambitious fighter aircraft programme yet,” as per a statement issued Wednesday.