New Delhi: The Indian government is poised to make a strategic decision on the future of its next-generation combat aircraft engine development. The Cabinet is currently awaiting a recommendation from the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) on whether to partner with the United Kingdom’s Rolls‑Royce or France’s Safran in co-developing advanced fighter jet engines for the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) program.
🔧 Why This Decision Matters
Jet engine technology is a critical bottleneck in India’s defence manufacturing capability. The country has faced challenges in the past, such as delays in engine supply for the Tejas LCA, exposing the risks of dependency on foreign suppliers. A robust, indigenously supported engine partnership would strengthen India’s strategic autonomy and defence preparedness.
🤝 The Contenders: Rolls‑Royce vs Safran
Both companies have offered to collaborate with DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bengaluru, including full Transfer of Technology (ToT) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for engine development.
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Rolls‑Royce (UK): Proposed a family of high-thrust turbofans, potentially usable across fighter, transport, and civilian platforms. The UK government has backed discussions.
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Safran (France): Offered to co-develop a prototype based on its M88 engine lineage (used in Rafale fighters), and has signaled support for restarting India’s Kaveri engine program as part of offset commitments.
📈 Strategic Context and India’s Defense Goals
India’s AMCA program aims to introduce a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, with an initial flight expected around 2029–2030 and induction by the mid-2030s. The engines for these aircraft must enable supercruise, stealth, and other advanced capabilities.
Earlier efforts, such as the indigenous Kaveri engine, were unable to meet required performance levels. This has renewed urgency for international collaboration that genuinely builds domestic engine design and manufacturing capabilities.
Further, India is broadening its defense partnerships beyond the United States—engaging not only the UK and France, but also Japan—to co-develop critical aerospace technologies.
📝 Next Steps
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DRDO is preparing a Cabinet Note, comparing the offers from Rolls‑Royce and Safran.
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The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has already issued a Request for Information (RFI) and conducted preliminary discussions with potential engine partners.
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A decision by the Cabinet is expected in the coming months, which will influence India’s capability to build a “Made in India” military jet engine, avoid future supply delays, and possibly enable export opportunities.
✅ Conclusion
India’s upcoming decision regarding its partner for jet engine co-development is not just a technical choice—it is a strategic inflection point. The outcome will shape its aerospace self-reliance, geopolitical positioning, and defence industrial ecosystem for decades to come. It underlines a broader shift towards deep technology collaboration with Western partners, underscoring India’s ambition to bolster both domestic innovation and global strategic autonomy.
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