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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the United Kingdom later this month is expected to significantly advance talks on a strategic defence partnership focused on developing jet engines for India’s next-generation fighter aircraft.
According to earlier reporting by BharatShakti in April 2025, British engine-maker Rolls-Royce and France’s Safran are leading contenders for a co-development project with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to power the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Also Read: https://bharatshakti.in/aerospace-majors-vie-for-supply-of-fighter-jet-engines-to-india/
With the Cabinet Secretariat now reviewing a note prepared by the DRDO, a high-level decision is expected soon on whether India will partner with Rolls-Royce or Safran for joint development of a 110–130 kilonewton (kN) thrust-class engine. Both firms have offered full transfer of technology (ToT), joint intellectual property rights, and co-production in India.
“Very few Indian companies actually own engine technology. For aircraft, ships, or even automobiles, we still don’t fully control it,” a senior defence official told BharatShakti. “We are keen to change that with aircraft engines, just like we have done in marine propulsion.”
Also Read: https://bharatshakti.in/amca-to-be-developed-and-manufactured-in-ppp-model-design-approved/
Supply Chain Disruptions Spark Urgency
Persistent delays in foreign deliveries have catalysed India’s shift toward engine self-reliance. BharatShakti had earlier reported that GE Aerospace’s F404-IN20 engine deliveries for the Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet have been significantly delayed. Only one engine was received by HAL in April 2025, with a second expected by the end of July, which is well behind the original 2023 timeline.
These disruptions have directly impacted the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fighter acquisition plans under a Rs 48,000 crore deal for 83 Tejas aircraft. HAL now targets delivery of 12 jets by fiscal year 2026, contingent on engine availability. According to HAL estimates, a consistent engine supply would enable the production of up to 16 aircraft annually.
These delays, attributed to post-COVID supply chain bottlenecks at GE, have highlighted a critical vulnerability: India’s continued reliance on imported propulsion systems for its military aircraft.
AMCA and the Search for an Indigenous Engine
India’s AMCA project—a 5.5-generation stealth fighter—represents the country’s most ambitious aerospace program. Initial prototypes and the first production batch (Mk1) will use imported GE F414 engines. However, India aims to transition to a domestically developed engine for the Mk2 variant.
BharatShakti has previously reported that Rolls-Royce has proposed a joint development model under which India would own the intellectual property of the engine. This proposal has been discussed at senior levels, including during Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s recent visit to the UK. The discussions are framed under the India–UK’ ‘2030 Roadmap,’ which includes fast-tracked export licensing and deeper collaboration in engine and naval propulsion technologies.
Safran, meanwhile, is engaged in parallel talks. BharatShakti previously reported that the French firm has proposed a derivative of its M88 engine (used in the Rafale) and is leveraging offset obligations from the Rafale deal to support this co-development. The engine program may also intersect with the long-delayed revival of the Kaveri engine, offering continuity and indigenous expertise.
India’s Geostrategic Rationale
India’s decision to diversify its engine partnerships comes not as a diplomatic shift away from the U.S., but as a move toward strategic redundancy. The war in Ukraine and recent cross-border escalations have emphasised the importance of localised defence manufacturing.
“The delays in American engine supplies are a symptom of larger systemic risk,” said a senior official familiar with the Cabinet note. “India must build inbuilt resilience.”
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh recently expressed frustration over delays across multiple defence acquisition programs. “There is not a single project that I can think of that has been completed on time,” he said in a public statement, reinforcing the push for indigenous systems.
Beyond the Air: Naval Engine Efforts Also Expand
India’s focus on self-reliance isn’t limited to the skies. The Navy has sanctioned a Rs 270 crore project with Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd to develop a 6 MW indigenous marine diesel engine, with over 50% local content and 70% government funding. This move mirrors the aircraft engine strategy, aiming to eliminate foreign dependency across all critical propulsion domains gradually.
“As we’ve done with marine engines, the idea is to develop a domestic supply base for combat aircraft as well,” an official told BharatShakti. “We are committed to building an entire ecosystem here.”
What’s Next? Key Decisions on the Horizon
India is expected to finalise its engine development partner within this fiscal year. Safran and Rolls-Royce are seen as frontrunners due to their active cooperation frameworks and willingness to localise key technologies.
Officials are also exploring the inclusion of a major Indian private sector firm alongside HAL to ensure broader industry participation and build long-term capability.
With Modi’s visit to the UK on the horizon, observers expect a major announcement or at least a high-level commitment on combat engine cooperation. This decision could shape the next two decades of India’s aerospace and defence roadmap.
Huma Siddiqui
