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Key Points

The Indian government is finalizing approval for a landmark jet engine partnership with France's Safran. This $7 billion project features complete technology transfer for developing 120kN engines in India. These engines will power India's future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and naval fighters. The project positions India among only a handful of nations capable of designing and producing advanced aircraft engines.

Key Points: India France Final Approval Safran DRDO Jet Engine Project

  • 100% technology transfer for 120kN jet engines in India
  • Project estimated to cost around $7 billion with DRDO and Safran
  • Will power indigenous AMCA fifth-generation fighter aircraft
  • Places India among elite nations with own engine technology
2 min read

Govt likely to give final nod soon to India's fighter jet engine project with France

India and France's $7 billion jet engine project for AMCA fighter gets final approval soon with 100% tech transfer, making India self-reliant in defense.

"We are about to start engine manufacturing work in India with the French company Safran - Rajnath Singh"

New Delhi, Sep 11

The Central government is likely to give the final go-ahead soon for a joint project between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and French aerospace major Safran to develop and manufacture an advanced jet engine to power India’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

The engine project, with 100 per cent transfer of technology, is aimed at developing and producing advanced 120-kilonewton engines in India for the twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and future platforms.

According to senior officials, DRDO will soon move the proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval. The new engine project, to be executed with DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), is estimated to cost around $7 billion

The development comes close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlining the importance of indigenous development of jet engines in his Independence Day speech.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also stated recently that the government has taken steps to move ahead with the proposal to build an indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

“We have also moved towards manufacturing the aircraft’s engine in India itself. We are about to start engine manufacturing work in India with the French company Safran,” Singh said at a media event in Delhi.

In May, the Defence Minister had approved the prototype design for the AMCA, a major step towards strengthening India’s ability to develop advanced combat aircraft indigenously.

PM Modi has given a strong push for an indigenous aircraft engine because this is high-level defence technology with significant civilian spin-offs. Private companies such as the Tata group, Adani Defence and L&T are also expected to pitch in for the national effort.

The project will take India into the elite club of nations that includes the US, Russia, the UK and France, which have the capacity to design, develop and produce their own aircraft engines. China still does not have its own technology to manufacture aircraft engines and uses Russian engines or reverse-engineered engines for its front-line fighter jets.

The Indian Navy will also get its twin-engine deck-based fighter with the more powerful Safran-GTRE jet engine for its aircraft carrier strike force as the country moves ahead with the creation of a blue water strategy.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
$7 billion is a huge investment but absolutely necessary. Hope the project stays on schedule and budget. We've seen delays in defence projects before - hope this one gets the priority it deserves.
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Rohit P
Great to see private companies like Tata and Adani involved. This will create high-tech jobs and build domestic capability beyond just defence. The civilian spin-offs could boost our aerospace industry significantly!
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Sarah B
While this is promising, I hope we're also investing in the R&D ecosystem - IITs, research institutions, and training for engineers. Technology transfer is good, but we need to build our own innovation capabilities for the long term.
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Vikram M
The naval application is equally important! Twin-engine deck-based fighters with indigenous engines will make our carriers truly formidable. This strengthens our blue water navy capabilities against regional threats.
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Michael C
Joining the elite club of engine manufacturers is a strategic milestone. China still depends on Russian engines - this puts India ahead in a critical technology domain. Strategic autonomy in defence is non-negotiable.

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