GTRE-Safran Targets 400+ Scalable 120kN Engines under $7B Investment to Power India's AMCA Mk2 and TEDBF

In a significant move to enhance India's indigenous defence capabilities, the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) is partnering with French aerospace giant Safran in a joint venture valued at approximately $7 billion.

This collaboration aims to co-develop and produce a new generation of fighter jet engines to power India’s future combat aircraft, marking a critical step towards self-reliance in advanced military propulsion technology.

The partnership will focus on creating a versatile engine initially capable of producing 120 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust, with a design that allows for future upgrades to over 140 kN.

This project ensures a guaranteed production order of more than 400 engines, a scale intended to make the substantial financial investment commercially viable.

This collaboration follows Safran's selection as the key international partner, reportedly chosen over competitors like the UK's Rolls-Royce due to a more favourable timeline and stronger commitments to a complete transfer of technology.

This new engine is slated to be the heart of India's most ambitious upcoming aerial platforms.

An initial order of 200 units is planned for the Indian Armed Forces, with 120 engines designated for the Indian Air Force's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk2 and 80 for the Indian Navy's Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF).

The AMCA is India's fifth-generation stealth fighter program, while the TEDBF is being developed for operations from the Navy's aircraft carriers.

This initial commitment underpins the economic strategy of the project, using economies of scale to manage the extensive costs of research, development, and manufacturing infrastructure.

A key highlight of the agreement is its alignment with India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ policy.

The deal reportedly grants India, through GTRE and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), full intellectual property rights (IPR). This provides unrestricted freedom to modify, maintain, and upgrade the engines domestically without foreign oversight, a crucial advantage that addresses shortcomings of past international defence deals.

The engine's long-term value is also significant; with a projected service life of 15 years between major overhauls, the AMCA and TEDBF fleets alone will require an estimated 400 to 600 additional engines throughout their operational lifetime for spares, replacements, and upgrades, fostering a sustainable indigenous manufacturing ecosystem.

The engine's design incorporates advanced features, such as sophisticated cooling systems and a high turbine entry temperature of 2100K, placing it among the world's top-tier propulsion systems.

The built-in scalability is a core part of its design, with future modifications planned to increase thrust beyond 140 kN.

These enhancements are intended to make the engine suitable for a conceptual sixth-generation fighter, capable of supporting future combat technologies like supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburners) and directed-energy weapons.

The versatility of the new powerplant extends beyond manned aircraft. It is being considered for a future large-scale Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV), envisioned as a more advanced successor to the Ghatak UCAV, which is currently powered by a derivative of the less powerful Kaveri engine.

his powerful new engine would enable future Indian drones to achieve greater endurance and carry heavier payloads for long-range stealth missions.

The development timeline is structured to align with India's fighter induction plans. Flight testing of the engine on a demonstrator aircraft, likely a Dassault Rafale, is anticipated around 2028, with series production expected to commence by 2035.

This schedule syncs with the planned induction of the AMCA Mk2 in the mid-2030s and the TEDBF after 2038.

This strategic Indo-French partnership not only mitigates risks associated with past indigenous engine programs but also deepens the defence relationship between the two nations, with potential for the engine to be exported to allied countries in the future.

 

India's Shakti Engine Poised to Achieve Full Indigenous Production with 100% ToT of Safran's Ardiden 1H1

India-Middle East-Europe Corridor's Future Hinges on Israel's Ability to Pave a Path Beyond Regional Conflict

[sanket]

Good, hope that if it is also integrated on the Tejas MK2, it will further boost the engine requirement and end the dependency on the unreliable US. In the long run, with private players likely to assemble the AMCA fighter jet, the order may exceed 200, while the TEDBF may be over 150 jets. That will give enough economies of scale to make the engine project viable, apart from the 40-year lifespan of a fighter jet, which will require at least two follow-on engines, given the 15-year service interval.

But the real gain will be for France, which will use some of the tech that has been developed for the AMCA engine with the investment of GTRE, which is 61,000 Cr. This is how Safran will benefit at no cost; it will enjoy some critical tech for the FCAS project. A nice move by Safran, though GTRE will retain IPR and export/modification rights.

The only thing is that it should not repeat the Shakti Engine drama for transferring/sharing, while it is contemporary and not after it becomes outdated. Let's say after a decade and a half, by the time it may be supplied from France and they milk the money. This should not happen.

Each and every component, even a nut and bolt, should be manufactured in Bharat, and prototypes should be built on the local ecosystem. It's nice to know the first prototype will be tested on the Rafale by 2028. This is what I said earlier, but some cartoon said it was about the AMCA prototype.

 

[Vivek Singh]

Good, hope that if it is also integrated on the Tejas MK2, it will further boost the engine requirement and end the dependency on the unreliable US. In the long run, with private players likely to assemble the AMCA fighter jet, the order may exceed 200, while the TEDBF may be over 150 jets. That will give enough economies of scale to make the engine project viable, apart from the 40-year lifespan of a fighter jet, which will require at least two follow-on engines, given the 15-year service interval.

But the real gain will be for France, which will use some of the tech that has been developed for the AMCA engine with the investment of GTRE, which is 61,000 Cr. This is how Safran will benefit at no cost; it will enjoy some critical tech for the FCAS project. A nice move by Safran, though GTRE will retain IPR and export/modification rights.

The only thing is that it should not repeat the Shakti Engine drama for transferring/sharing, while it is contemporary and not after it becomes outdated. Let's say after a decade and a half, by the time it may be supplied from France and they milk the money. This should not happen.

Each and every component, even a nut and bolt, should be manufactured in Bharat, and prototypes should be built on the local ecosystem. It's nice to know the first prototype will be tested on the Rafale by 2028. This is what I said earlier, but some cartoon said it was about the AMCA prototype.

Well, a lot of the 61,000 crore will go into salaries of our scientists and creating facilities in India, but you are right. Safran will make a neat profit. On top of that, they will have new technologies that they develop as part of the program. They will also have the IPR.

I guess it is their reward for over half a century of R&D and being French (who have their own foreign policy, unlike the UK which is the US's puppet).

 

[SURESH RAO]

I have been repeatedly telling for the last 7 years that Safran currently has the know how for 75 kN engine only (Snecma M88-2). Their Snecma M88-4 engine (producing 88 kN) will take at least another 4 to 5 years. Both these engines are 4th gen.

Safran does not have the know how of 5th gen engine. They do not have the know how for more than 95 kN engine. They are way way way behind GE 414 engine. They will use our funds to develop 5th and 6th gen engine. I have strong doubts about their capability to develop and test 5th gen engine by 2035. I think they are incapable.

 

[beencensured]

Having wet foreign dreams again. They will take your money and give you a dirty pickle. Only in Hinduism honesty is valued. The rest are so drunk that act on whim, speak euphemism to get more drunk, then do their historical nonsense. India is giving the French the design, and paying $7 billion for hand-holding.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Well, a lot of the 61,000 crore will go into salaries of our scientists and creating facilities in India, but you are right. Safran will make a neat profit. On top of that, they will have new technologies that they develop as part of the program. They will also have the IPR.

I guess it is their reward for over half a century of R&D and being French (who have their own foreign policy, unlike the UK which is the US's puppet).

Scientists at GTRE are already being paid. Their salary doesn't depend on the Safran deal.

 

[Vivek Singh]

Scientists at GTRE are already being paid. Their salary doesn't depend on the Safran deal.

Of course, the defence scientists are being paid. But we will need many more of them. Plus we will have to set up various test facilities which will have many more employees.

 

[sandy 007]

Scientists at GTRE are already being paid. Their salary doesn't depend on the Safran deal.

GTRE must also be given some funds, let's say somewhere around 3 billion dollars, for their experiments for the Tejas Mk2 jet engine development programme. The good thing about Indians is that they have low budgets but the expectations are too much from them. The fact is that at least GTRE and the Indian private sector must join hands in the Kaveri 2 engine development programme. This will open the door for the future jet engine development ecosystem in India, further refining the technology for future jet engine technology and other jet engine programmes.

 

[sandy 007]

Good, hope that if it is also integrated on the Tejas MK2, it will further boost the engine requirement and end the dependency on the unreliable US. In the long run, with private players likely to assemble the AMCA fighter jet, the order may exceed 200, while the TEDBF may be over 150 jets. That will give enough economies of scale to make the engine project viable, apart from the 40-year lifespan of a fighter jet, which will require at least two follow-on engines, given the 15-year service interval.

But the real gain will be for France, which will use some of the tech that has been developed for the AMCA engine with the investment of GTRE, which is 61,000 Cr. This is how Safran will benefit at no cost; it will enjoy some critical tech for the FCAS project. A nice move by Safran, though GTRE will retain IPR and export/modification rights.

The only thing is that it should not repeat the Shakti Engine drama for transferring/sharing, while it is contemporary and not after it becomes outdated. Let's say after a decade and a half, by the time it may be supplied from France and they milk the money. This should not happen.

Each and every component, even a nut and bolt, should be manufactured in Bharat, and prototypes should be built on the local ecosystem. It's nice to know the first prototype will be tested on the Rafale by 2028. This is what I said earlier, but some cartoon said it was about the AMCA prototype.

Before starting the jet engine development program, Safran should pass on some critical hot engine core technology, lightweight metallurgical technology, and even crystal blade technology. That way, once the program starts, both parties can work at a speedy pace and overcome many system challenges. Sharing some critical technology initially can help overcome many difficulties in the future.

 

[MohitG]

Deal a necessity for India. Meanwhile, India needs to develop self reliance in jet engine ASAP

 

[Snowstrike]

Ahh yes, here we go again! Down another rabbit hole of technological inferiority, because of the carrot of the 'French Connection!'. I can't begin to fathom the decision-making process happening within the walls of the South Block. Safran, a wonderful historical partner who is notorious for fleecing and extracting (see Ardiden and Kaveri), offered India a 4th-gen core (1980s) without VCE for a 5th gen plane, while RR of the UK offered India a clean-sheet 6th gen core with VCE for the same plane, albeit on a 3 year longer development cycle. It seems the know-it-alls at the top are clear: they will choose a 3 year shorter timeline at the expense of being 3 decades obsolete. Cheers to another generation of short termism-induced obsolescence!

 

[Sandeep]

I have been repeatedly telling for the last 7 years that Safran currently has the know how for 75 kN engine only (Snecma M88-2). Their Snecma M88-4 engine (producing 88 kN) will take at least another 4 to 5 years. Both these engines are 4th gen.

Safran does not have the know how of 5th gen engine. They do not have the know how for more than 95 kN engine. They are way way way behind GE 414 engine. They will use our funds to develop 5th and 6th gen engine. I have strong doubts about their capability to develop and test 5th gen engine by 2035. I think they are incapable.

Did the USA think that they could develop the F414 engine after developing the F404 engine?

Researching and developing any new technology comes with risk, trial and error, time and money but there’s no guarantee that you will always succeed or you might only succeed in making some of it but not the rest. The USA have designed and manufactured a broad range of jets and engines and only a prototype has been built and that’s it.

 

[Sandeep]

India should definitely go ahead with this deal because to develop a stealth engine requires a lot of knowledge, experience, skills, expertise, heavy machinery, manufacturing processes, advanced metallurgical knowledge, precision engineering, mathematical skills etc. After learning all of this knowledge then we will be able to develop any future engines by ourselves.