Aeronautical Development Agency

ADA

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is an autonomous organization under the Department of Defence Research and Development (DR&D) of India's Ministry of Defence. Established in 1984 and headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, ADA is the nodal agency responsible for the design and development of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program. Its notable projects include the HAL Tejas, Tejas Mk2, Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). ADA has developed specialized software tools for computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided engineering (CAE), and flight simulation. The agency collaborates with various stakeholders, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratories, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) institutions, academic bodies, and private sector partners, to advance India's indigenous defense capabilities.