From Tejas to AMCA: Lack of Indigenous Engines Hampering India's Fighter Jets' Flight

India's ambitious strides in modernizing its air force through indigenous fighter jet programs like Tejas Mk1A, Tejas MkII, AMCA, HLFT-42, and TEDBF are commendable. However, a critical roadblock persists – the absence of a robust domestic engine program.

Despite significant investments by the Ministry of Defence and progress made by organizations like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Aeronautical Development Agency, India remains reliant on foreign engines for its fighter jets. This dependence poses risks such as technology restrictions, supply chain vulnerabilities, and escalated costs.

While the DRDO's plans to develop a 100kN engine for the AMCA in collaboration with a foreign OEM offer a glimmer of hope, the realization of this joint venture remains uncertain.

A strong local engine program is crucial not only for achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing but also for stimulating domestic aerospace industries and generating high-value employment opportunities.

India's ambitious fighter jet aspirations, while commendable, are currently hindered by the lack of a robust indigenous engine capability. Though the government has initiated steps to address this challenge, the successful development of a domestic engine program will be paramount for India to truly soar in its pursuit of self-reliance in defence.

 

[parimal vaikuthray Pandya]

It's getting impossible task of any achievement for getting political economic and social factors hacked by local mafias everywhere in the country since a long time

 

[NSR]

Get real, no local fighter engine will be falling from skies or much less from trees.

India gotta shell out $$$$ through its nose to invest in universities, labs, startups, and private and public companies to develop core technologies to get its own fighter engine.

Not an easy task so start doing it this second.

 

[atul sharma]

It needs substantial funds to develop new technology. India's defense budget is very low and to develop newer technologies it requires lots of funds. In my view our defense budget should not be less then 300 billions, if we want to keep pace with China. In 2030 China is going to produce 1000 J-20's and India's AMCA is not coming into production before 2040. So how can we think about defending our borders against China with such pathetic situation. In 75 billion dollors budget most of money spend into salaries, pensions etc of personnels, so little amount is left to aquire new platforms and develop newer technologies.

 

[atul sharma]

Get real, no local fighter engine will be falling from skies or much less from trees.

India gotta shell out $$$$ through its nose to invest in universities, labs, startups, and private and public companies to develop core technologies to get its own fighter engine.

Not an easy task so start doing it this second.

Yes in my view our defense budget should not be less then 300 billion dollors to fund into developing newer technologies and aquire good platforms from abroad in good numbers. 36 Rafale is like peanuts when you compare with China who already has more then 250 J-20's and going to produce 800 more by 2030.

 

[Anant]

Yes in my view our defense budget should not be less then 300 billion dollors to fund into developing newer technologies and aquire good platforms from abroad in good numbers. 36 Rafale is like peanuts when you compare with China who already has more then 250 J-20's and going to produce 800 more by 2030.

And where do you propose we get the 225 or so billion USD that is required to get a 300 billion USD defence budget?

If you are giving that suggestion, please also suggesting how to get the money.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

And where do you propose we get the 225 or so billion USD that is required to get a 300 billion USD defence budget?

If you are giving that suggestion, please also suggesting how to get the money.

We are £5 trillion economy in two years.This happens when we reduce defence budget as percentage of GDP.

 

[SK]

Indian-Govt should encourage (pressure) both IAF & IN to form a JV to invest in:-
(1) TEDBF (ORCA)
(2) AMCA
(3) HLFT-42

This will insure long terms Logistical synergy & Economy of Scales for Indian Military, Aerospace & Defence industry.

Tejas MK-2 can allow IAF to have the numbers to easily dominate Air-forces of Nations like Pakistan, Bangladesh & Myanmar but only can combo of ORCA & AMCA can insure Dominance & parity with the likes of Iran & China.

Tejas-Mk2, AMCA & TEDBF (ORCA) will use different version of GE F-414, making it easier create an Indigenous equivalent with time.

 

[Sandeep]

India are going to develop an engine with Safran where we will get 100% of the technology, manufacture it in India and with indigenous content. So a contract will be signed by the end of this year as this is the best deal that we can achieve and it will also educate us on the science, engineering and metallurgy involved in developing a engine which might be able to use build or improve our next indigenous engine.

 

[Anant]

We are £5 trillion economy in two years.This happens when we reduce defence budget as percentage of GDP.

Yeah... doesn't work that way. GDP is not the spending money you get. We can keep up defence spending as a certain percentage of GDP, but then you'd have less money for other things such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, social security, etc.

What we need to do is to increase the proportion of government revenue to GDP. That happens (sustainably) when more people pay taxes. In order to do that, you need to increase incomes for people, which means more jobs, better education, etc. We are spending money on those things as well.

See, don't get me wrong. I too am of the opinion that India's defence budget is lower than it should be, and we should be looking at anchoring it to, say, 2% of GDP, with the long-term goal of bringing it to 1.5% by the time we become a 10 trillion USD economy. However, as things stand, anything far more tahn what we already have isn't feasible.