GTRE Yet to Decide Between Rolls-Royce and Safran for 110kN AMCA Engine, Full ToT and IP Rights Key Factors

The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a part of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is yet to select a foreign partner to co-develop the engine for its ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.

Both Safran of France and Rolls-Royce of the UK have submitted proposals, leaving the Indian defence sector in a position of strength as it negotiates this critical collaboration.

The AMCA, envisioned as a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, represents a significant step towards India's goal of self-reliance in military aviation. The engine, a crucial component of this project, is expected to generate between 110-130kN of thrust, a considerable advancement over existing Indian fighter jet engines.

Safran has taken a proactive approach, offering a complete transfer of technology (ToT), including Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), for a newly developed engine. This offer extends beyond technology transfer to encompass potential local manufacturing without export restrictions.

This would enable India to achieve self-sufficiency in producing high-thrust engines. Safran's existing presence in the Indian market, through projects like the Rafale fighter jet, provides a foundation for a potentially expanded partnership.

Rolls-Royce, on the other hand, has proposed a co-creation model for a new fighter engine, emphasizing joint intellectual property ownership. This partnership approach would ensure India retains IPR throughout the engine's development.

Rolls-Royce's extensive experience with advanced engines like the EJ200, which powers the Eurofighter Typhoon, and their recent collaborations with Indian companies on commercial engine projects, demonstrate their commitment to strengthening their relationship with India's defence sector.

Rolls-Royce has also expressed its willingness to support India in becoming a major hub for engine manufacturing.

Despite these attractive offers, GTRE has not yet revealed its preferred partner, keeping both Safran and Rolls-Royce in suspense. This decision holds significant implications not only for the AMCA program but also for the future of defence technology collaborations between India and these European nations.

The delay is attributed to India's comprehensive evaluation process, which considers technical aspects, geopolitical factors, and the long-term advantages of technology transfer.

India's deliberate approach reflects a strategic shift in defence procurement, prioritizing technological advancement and the cultivation of indigenous capabilities.

This cautious approach can be interpreted as a negotiation tactic to encourage both companies to improve their offers, or as a thorough due diligence process to ensure the chosen partner aligns with India's long-term defence requirements.

 

[sanket]

May 2025 picture will be clear, it will be Safran all the way. Bharat is likely to buy Rafale under MRFA, so 110 kN will be able to integrate into Rafale too, already having 36 Air Force versions & 26 Naval versions, with a deal soon to be signed. Safran's offer is better than RR at the moment.

 

[Steel Mathi]

I would like to understand if someone could explain why Russia is not participating in this project.

 

[sanket]

I would like to understand if someone could explain why Russia is not participating in this project.

In the article, there is no mention of two US aero-engine giants. It means the US is also not participating even after GE having arranged and taken the initiative of supplying engines for the Tejas Mk1A, Tejas Mk2, AMCA Mk1, and some initial batches of TEDBF. Actually, GE is in a very advantageous position; they can use the GE-414 as a base for developing a 110 to 130 kN engine with some modification and development of 5th and 6th-gen features. It's a bread-and-butter opportunity for GE. The GE-414 will be manufactured under ToT of almost 80%. This means the engine component ecosystem will already exist, but even then, GE will miss the golden opportunity.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

I would like to understand if someone could explain why Russia is not participating in this project.

Because their engines have low service life and are expensive to maintain so MOD decided against it.

 

[Nobody In here]

French engines used in Dhruv are falling like nine pins. They refused to invest back a single dollar into India as part of their 30% "Offset clause" on Rafael. These guys are NOT trustworthy at all, their only intention is to get as much money from India as possible

 

[Shrujanam Syama]

It is foolish to even think that India will ask foreign country to develop a new engine. Foreign tie-ups are always for existing technology, never to develop a new engine from scratch. No one can put a timeline on development & no agreement can be made specifying that the development will be completed within a timeframe as R&D is always uncertain area. The foreign countries will take advantage of this to intentionally delay the development, charge tens of billions of dollars in the process.

It is foolish to even think that India will seek foreign partner for 110kN engines. Anyone who is seeking this is a traitor or foreign agent.

 

[Shrujanam Syama]

I would like to understand if someone could explain why Russia is not participating in this project.

India doesn't reveal its plans for highly strategic technology. So, it is possible that India is already in advanced stage of development and Russia is helping but it is not going to be revealed. India started the development of new engine in 2016 under Parrikar. It is highly unreasonable to think that India has done no progress for 8-9 years and is still waiting for foreign partners without issuing a single RFI/RFP for it. Moreover, the flight testing of Kaveri engines is likely to be a direct byproduct of this development, implying India already has achieved significant milestones.

 

[Shrujanam Syama]

French engines used in Dhruv are falling like nine pins. They refused to invest back a single dollar into India as part of their 30% "Offset clause" on Rafael. These guys are NOT trustworthy at all, their only intention is to get as much money from India as possible

India had already begun development of 110KN engines in 2016 under Parrikar. Not even a single attempt has been made to get in any foreign partners. This only shows that India is already developing it on its own. Just the details of it are being kept in wraps due to its secretive nature

 

[Arin Kumar]

Will these co-development be like AL 31 FP engine that we "manufacture" at HAL?

Even then we will not be self reliant.

Why cant we get this in our heads that no nation will transfer fully the technology for jet engine manufacturing? We have to do it on our own.

RR and SEAFRAN are in no "suspense", they are looking at Indian Airforce like a grilled chicken that they are ready to make the most money from.

 

[Kira]

RR seems to be technically more capable here, as it has greater experience working with more capable engines for more platforms than Safran.

I believe India should go ahead with Safran, but mainly for helicopter engines, while teaming up with RR for jet/marine engines.

GE is also a proven alternative for both marine/jet engines, and they should compete with RR for future projects and contracts.

 

[kumar]

UK is unreliable. Sign agreement with French and get on with it. It is late already.

 

[Mithun Raj]

You won't get anything without spending money. Furthermore, delay won't take us anywhere.

 

[Manoj Kumar]

Y cant they turn it into a 3 Engine deal wit Safran.
1. Fix Kaver
2. 110KN for TEDBF, Tejas MK2, AMCA
3. 145KN Enige for Indias 6th Gen fighter, Tejas MK3

 

[prasant kumar shaarma]

India doesn't reveal its plans for highly strategic technology. So, it is possible that India is already in advanced stage of development and Russia is helping but it is not going to be revealed. India started the development of new engine in 2016 under Parrikar. It is highly unreasonable to think that India has done no progress for 8-9 years and is still waiting for foreign partners without issuing a single RFI/RFP for it. Moreover, the flight testing of Kaveri engines is likely to be a direct byproduct of this development, implying India already has achieved significant milestones.

May be you have some points. May be India is awaiting the outcome of Kaveri engine test. May be only after that India will announce what degree of cooperation it needs.

 

[Provocateur Extraordinaire]

The French are past masters in price gouging and wriggling out of their commitments and this is all on record. On the plus side is that they don't ask questions how you use their stuff and will probably not squeeze you by cutting off supply when you need it. But this is also largely untested for india. The argentinians found out the hard way in 82 Falkland war when supplies of exocets and spares for super etendards fighters dried up overnight. So keeping thing in perspective, if the offer of rolls Royce matches or exceeds the French offer, best to go with them.