Rfp for "manufacturing" once development is done.
Program didn't start in 2010, it started in 2018 when gov. Decided to exist from fgfa/su57 and decided to give domestic amca a shot.
Before 2018, it was just drdo showing models and doing basic design work, in hope to get project started.
The DoD guys, program managers themselves said that program started in 2010.
But their BABU culture definition of start could mean tea talks

& booze-brainstorming
Anyways, they did make the preliminary shape, CAD, wind tunnel tests, some CFD, we have the design iteration diagram also. But all this took much more time of 15 years + govt./MoD delays.
And now some people want F404 based prototype, which could have been done along LCA. Heck, we could have made stealth ALCA with 2xF404. Just imagine a stealthy F-18 A/B/C/D, like i shared a CAD of stealthy F-18 SH. But 1x F404 based how many LCA we have, HAL being scolded by IAF.
So it is a joint delay by everyone on requirement, fund, facilities, tools, design, review, approval, etc.
sab milke hage hain. sabka saath sabki hagas.
