How India's AMCA Engine Development Cost Compared to Other Global Counterparts?

Developing a fifth-generation fighter jet engine is a complex and costly undertaking, demanding significant investment in research, development, infrastructure, and skilled labor. As India embarks on its ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, the development of an indigenous engine is a critical aspect, aiming to power a domestically-produced fighter with cutting-edge stealth and combat capabilities.

To gauge the potential financial commitment required for India's AMCA engine project, it's instructive to examine similar programs undertaken by other nations. The United States, the United Kingdom, France, and China have all invested heavily in developing fifth-generation jet engines, offering valuable benchmarks for India.

The cost of developing such an engine can vary significantly based on factors like scope, technical specifications, and the level of innovation involved. Here’s a look at recent international programs:

United States​

F135 (Pratt & Whitney): Developed for the F-35 Lightning II, this engine has incurred an estimated cost of $10 billion USD from initial research and development to production setup.

XA100 Adaptive Cycle Engine (GE): Positioned as the successor to the F135, this engine is projected to require an additional $4 billion in research and development. Backed by the U.S. Air Force's Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP), the XA100 aims to deliver superior thrust and fuel efficiency for future fighters.

United Kingdom​

Tempest Program (Rolls-Royce): This program, focused on a sixth-generation fighter, includes the development of an advanced power and propulsion system by Rolls-Royce. Initial estimates place the cost at approximately £2 billion (roughly $2.5 billion USD), but experts anticipate this figure could rise to $4 billion due to the engine's complexity. This includes incorporating adaptive cycle technology, increasing thrust-to-weight ratio, and utilizing advanced materials to manage thermal and stealth requirements.

France-Germany-Spain​

Future Combat Air System (FCAS) (Safran/MTU Aero Engines): This joint European program has an initial development budget of around €3 billion (approximately $3.5 billion USD). Similar to the Tempest program, the FCAS engine will feature adaptive cycles, enhanced cooling systems, and thrust vectoring. Further funding is expected to ensure the engine meets stringent stealth and performance targets comparable to the U.S. F135.

China​

WS-15: China's investment in the WS-15 engine for its J-20 stealth fighter is estimated to exceed $5 billion in research and development costs. Challenges in metallurgy, cooling, and reliability have contributed to the high cost. Despite this investment, the WS-15 reportedly still lags behind Western engines in performance, highlighting the complexities of fifth-generation engine development.

India's AMCA Engine​

Drawing comparisons with these international programs, it's estimated that India's AMCA engine development could necessitate a budget in the range of $3 billion to $4 billion USD. This investment would be crucial in enabling India to produce a fighter jet that can compete with current fifth-generation platforms like the F-35.

 

[VedantaKiran]

This will become another white elephant unless the private sector also gets to work on this engine. HAL & other defence PSUs working on the engine is like dreaming for what is impossible.

HAL is not ISRO because the motivation levels of ISRO and their conscience of the scientists in ISRO is far more higher than those in HAL.

 

[sanket]

Bharat has to start from scratch From Test facility to R&D I again say it is going to cost around 35000 cr to 45 000 cr for developing AMCA Engine 110 kN

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Meanwhile India thought 250-300 million is enough for kaveri. We shelve it or put it in slow death mode and look for a JV partner.

 

[GolGappa]

US is so advanced in R&D bcz of their hold on dollar. They Print unlimited dollar and fund RnD to developed by whatevr it takes attitude. All the inflation is passed on to whole world specially global south nation like india. Chinese Japanese followed same and Printed their own local curreny in nlimited manner to fund their RnD industrialization and Infra.
India need to do the same.

 

[kurtwallis wallis]

ONLY because, they USA- grabbed the VERY BEST-Naz_i-Scientists after end of ww2; and then gave green cards to the very best of International graduate students [graduated from Top 50 USA Univ's], to work in to DoD defense companies from the late 1970's... India should do the same to grab SA and Ukranian scientists before they go off to CCP or Turkey....

 

[kurtwallis wallis]

US is so advanced in R&D bcz of their hold on dollar. They Print unlimited dollar and fund RnD to developed by whatevr it takes attitude. All the inflation is passed on to whole world specially global south nation like india. Chinese Japanese followed same and Printed their own local curreny in nlimited manner to fund their RnD industrialization and Infra.
India need to do the same.

USA is facing some 40 to 50 Trillions usd internal deficit which will trigger recession and global depression next year or so....

 

[Subho S]

I can bet that a GTRE led co-development in partnership with a foreign OEM will achieve the same results as their western counterparts with half the budget but take twice the time ! Time = Money and therefore it'll be a wash. That said, we have no other choice. We cannot be handcuffed by Western countries that can blackball you anytime they want and the value of independence from the West is in one word PRICELESS !

 

[PKPRS]

Bharat has to start from scratch From Test facility to R&D I again say it is going to cost around 35000 cr to 45 000 cr for developing AMCA Engine 110 kN

and wait another 4 Decades or more.

 

[PKPRS]

RR will have the best stealth engine that will given to us if paid , though US has the best stealth engine tech , sharing this teach is a ?

 

[NSR]

India must spend whatever it takes to get its own fighter engines of all classes including F-404IN20 class, F-414INS6 class, and then 5th or 6th gen fighter engine.

Remember that India already perfected 75% of fighter engine through Kaveri Dry section and intend to use them in UCAVs.
Also, Indian company MIDHANI manufacturing high temperature alloys needed to make Single Chrystal blades and HOT CORE section components.
MIDHANI already supplied them for some small engine program HTFE-25 (?).

So I have hope that India can do it if it invests heavily in universities, labs, public and private companies, including startups where bundles of talent available will come up with new idea.

 

[Hardik]

and wait another 4 Decades or more.

Safran not like HAL bud.