Rajnath Singh Pushes for Indigenous 6th-Generation Aero Engines, Calls for Faster Timelines at GTRE

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday set an ambitious target for India’s aero-engine programme, asking scientists to move beyond fifth-generation platforms and begin work on sixth-generation engine technologies.

Speaking after reviewing the status of ongoing indigenous military gas turbine engine projects at DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bengaluru, Singh highlighted the urgency of developing future-ready capabilities.

“We are rapidly moving towards the design and development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). We have made numerous attempts in the past to achieve expertise in aero engines. Now the time has come to complete those efforts. We cannot limit ourselves to only fifth-generation engines. We must begin development of sixth-generation, advanced technologies as soon as possible,” he said.

The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s proposed fifth-generation stealth fighter, is central to the Indian Air Force’s long-term modernisation plans. Engine development has remained one of the most critical technology gaps in the programme.
Singh said India must stay ahead as Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and advanced materials increasingly shape defence manufacturing. Research in these areas, he noted, will define the next wave of combat aviation.

Calling aero-engine development one of the most complex technological undertakings, Singh said it brings together thermodynamics, materials science, fluid mechanics and high-end mechanical engineering. Even advanced countries, he observed, take 25 to 30 years to develop next-generation engines.

Urging Indian scientists to compress timelines, he said strategic circumstances demand urgency. “We must assume that 20 years have already passed and we now have only five to seven years left,” he said.

The Defence Minister also referred to Operation Sindoor, saying it showcased India’s growing self-reliance in defence production. From communication systems and surveillance equipment to attack weapons, he said, indigenous systems strengthened operational confidence and boosted morale among troops.

“In view of evolving challenges, it is imperative to focus more on indigenous methods and provide our forces with world-class systems and equipment,” he added.

Singh praised GTRE’s ongoing collaboration with the United Kingdom on aero-engine studies and said a similar process has been initiated with France under the National Aero Engine Mission. Both countries, he noted, possess deep expertise in high-performance military engines.

“These collaborations will help us learn new technologies and understand the challenges they have faced over decades,” he said.

He also pointed to the wider economic impact of advanced engine technologies. GTRE’s work on high-temperature composites and advanced materials could benefit civil aviation, power generation and the space sector, he said. With India among the fastest-growing civil aviation markets globally, breakthroughs in defence aero engines today could have a transformative effect on commercial aviation and broader industrial growth in the years ahead.

Team BharatShakti