Godrej Aerospace, a significant contributor to India's defence manufacturing sector, has formally indicated its strong interest in collaborating with the DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) on the development of a new engine for the country's future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The company highlighted its relevant experience gained from manufacturing key sections of the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE), which is considered an important step in India's efforts to create its own jet engine technology.
Maneck Behramkamdin, representing Godrej Aerospace, stated that the company is well-prepared and views participation in the AMCA engine project as a logical next step, positioning Godrej as a potential key partner in this national defence initiative.
Speaking at an industry event noted to be in February 2025, Mr. Behramkamdin emphasized the continuity between Godrej's current manufacturing abilities and the requirements for the future fighter engine.
He suggested that while the fifth-generation engine will be technologically superior, the core manufacturing techniques – working with advanced alloys, specialized welding, and crucial heat and surface treatments – would remain fundamentally the same as those mastered during the KDE project.
This confidence in leveraging existing production knowledge aligns with India's broader goals of achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in critical defence technologies.
Godrej Aerospace's work on the Kaveri Derivative Engine project has allowed the company to develop significant expertise in high-precision manufacturing for aerospace applications. The KDE, an engine developed by GTRE based on the earlier Kaveri program, delivers between 46 and 52 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust and is intended for applications such as India's Ghatak stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) and potentially marine propulsion.
For the KDE, Godrej successfully manufactured critical parts like turbine blades, compressor discs, and combustor modules, which involved working with advanced nickel-based superalloys and using sophisticated processes like electron beam welding and specialized heat treatments designed to withstand extreme operating temperatures exceeding 1,500°C. Mr. Behramkamdin believes these skills are directly applicable to the more powerful 110-130 kN thrust engine needed for the advanced version of the AMCA.
A fifth-generation fighter engine requires cutting-edge capabilities, including the ability to achieve 'supercruise' (sustained supersonic flight without using fuel-guzzling afterburners), features that reduce its heat signature for stealth, and a long operational life potentially exceeding 4,000 hours. These specifications are far more demanding than the original Kaveri engine design.
However, Godrej Aerospace maintains that the essential manufacturing disciplines, such as achieving extremely tight tolerances measured in microns and maintaining rigorous quality control while working with materials like Inconel or titanium aluminides, are processes the company is already proficient in. The primary challenge, as suggested, lies more in the advanced design and system integration rather than a complete overhaul of manufacturing methods.
The AMCA is planned as India's next-generation stealth fighter. The initial version, AMCA MkI, is currently projected to make its first flight around 2028, likely powered by the American GE Aerospace F414 engine (producing 98 kN thrust). The subsequent AMCA MkII variant, planned for the mid-2030s, aims for enhanced capabilities including supercruise and requires the more powerful 110-130 kN indigenous engine.
India has faced challenges in developing indigenous fighter engines, with the earlier Kaveri project not meeting fighter aircraft requirements. To overcome this dependency, the Indian government reportedly sanctioned significant funds (estimated around ₹15,000 crore in 2024) dedicated to developing a suitable engine domestically.
While talks with international companies like Safran (France) and Rolls-Royce (UK) regarding potential collaboration continue, Godrej's expressed interest highlights the growing capability and willingness of India's private sector to contribute to this high-technology defence project.
Mr. Behramkamdin supported his company's readiness by pointing to Godrej Aerospace's established history in supplying critical components for other strategic national programs. This includes manufacturing thrust chambers for the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Vikas rocket engine, used in satellite launches, and producing components for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system.
Mastery of advanced techniques, potentially including single-crystal blade casting vital for modern jet engines, underscores the company's argument. Successful domestic development of such complex engine technology, he concluded, would significantly benefit India's strategic autonomy and boost the nation's wider aerospace and industrial capabilities.
