IAF Endorses Foreign JV in AMCA Engine Development for Initial Boost, with Long-Term Goal of Complete Indigenous Production

In a significant development for India's indigenous fighter jet program, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has expressed strong support for a collaborative approach to developing the engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

While the ultimate goal remains complete indigenous production, the strategy now involves partnering with a foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to design the engine's core, while Indian scientists and engineers focus on developing the low-pressure (LP) side.

This strategic shift aims to leverage international expertise for the more complex aspects of jet engine development, specifically the combustor core and high-pressure components, which are critical for performance and efficiency.

By partnering with a foreign OEM, India can benefit from advanced technologies and accelerate the AMCA program while simultaneously building its own manufacturing and design capabilities.

The IAF emphasizes a "learn alongside" approach, where Indian engineers will gain valuable insights and skills through collaboration with the foreign entity. This knowledge transfer is crucial for India to develop its own expertise in critical areas of jet engine technology.

A key aspect of this partnership is the commitment to achieving 100% localization of the core engine in the long term. This goal is vital not only for the AMCA program but also for the broader aerospace industry in India. It addresses several fundamental challenges:

• Material science: Developing the capacity to produce advanced materials that can withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures within a jet engine core is essential for reducing dependence on foreign supply chains.
• Manufacturing techniques: Mastering the intricate, precision manufacturing processes required for engine cores will elevate India's manufacturing sector and potentially benefit other industries.
• Technology transfer: Securing comprehensive technology transfer will enable India not only to produce the current generation of engines but also to drive future innovations in engine technology.

While this partnership might initially appear to deviate from the goal of complete self-reliance, it is a calculated move towards achieving full indigenous capability.

By starting with a joint venture for the core engine, India can overcome significant technological hurdles, learn from its partner, and gradually take over all aspects of engine production.

This decision has sparked discussions among defence analysts and on social media platforms like X, where there seems to be a consensus that developing a completely indigenous fighter jet engine within the required timelines for the AMCA Mk2 is a significant challenge.

This sentiment reflects an acknowledgment of existing knowledge gaps and the necessity of international collaboration to meet the demanding performance expectations of modern warfare.

By strategically leveraging foreign expertise while remaining committed to long-term indigenous development, India is taking a pragmatic approach to building a robust and self-reliant aerospace industry.

 

[R. Singh]

First make engine for AMCA otherwise it meet Tejas-1A fate ! Cart before Horse was big big mistake committed by ADA+HAL +GTRE !

 

[sanket]

That's good news. The IAF supporting all indigenous fighter jet projects is a very positive development. Unlike the Tejas Mk1A & Tejas Mk2, where a US engine is being used, even for AMCA Mk1, it looks like the IAF is more confident in indigenous development. Now, a 20% collaboration with similar investment from a foreign OEM, where Safran is the frontrunner, and they too have a similar project called FCAS. A common core for both projects is likely to be developed, and the same engine can be integrated into Rafale too, whether purchased under MRFA or for Rafale M and the 36 Air Force version. This is the advantage if Safran is selected for the engine development project.

 

[Shiva]

What nonsense is this? Can't Indian scientists design it and then use one foreign company to make those critical components and hand them over to India? Why is designing things shifted to another country? Why does design really need a foreign company? It is just that we need some critical components. India can design them first in various dimensions and then order them in bulk. Once we get that, then depending on them, design the remaining parts for the engine, and then once the engine is designed, take it to the test bed and then identify its characteristics and then do a vibration test using substructure tests or similar tests to figure out the designing parameters for the remaining tests. Why does design require the involvement of another country?

India should focus on guessing initial core parts and then prepare them with various dimensions and then bulk-produce them using a trusted foreign partner that has the capacity to produce quickly. And then use it and start designing the remaining parts of the engine and then bulk-produce them. This will give Indian designing and production units expertise and a learning experience in bulk-producing engines. This will also pave a way to produce more engines and aircraft per annum as per long-term war needs.

Have you forgotten that China already acquired the technology to bulk-produce UAVs and also recently acquired a foreign company that is very suitable for engine production??!! The combination of these two will result in bulk-producible UAVs in the next decade??!!

We deadly need a workaround to bulk-produce aircraft and engines. This new design must focus on these things.

 

[Krishnendu Chatterjee]

Alternately we could higher well-experienced retired engineers from GE, Rolls Royce etc. to achieve the goal. Western companies higher talent from all over the world.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Wrong direction. Kaberi2.0 should be used in AMCAmk1 and m2. PlanB : Give this engine development to Adhani, Ambhani and TATAs with funding. I'm sure in 2 years time they can produce world class 6th gen engine.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Alternately we could higher well-experienced retired engineers from GE, Rolls Royce etc. to achieve the goal. Western companies higher talent from all over the world.

Good suggestion. But hiring them will be costly affair.

 

[The Presence]

What nonsense is this? Can't Indian scientists design it and then use one foreign company to make those critical components and hand them over to India? Why is designing things shifted to another country? Why does design really need a foreign company? It is just that we need some critical components. India can design them first in various dimensions and then order them in bulk. Once we get that, then depending on them, design the remaining parts for the engine, and then once the engine is designed, take it to the test bed and then identify its characteristics and then do a vibration test using substructure tests or similar tests to figure out the designing parameters for the remaining tests. Why does design require the involvement of another country?

India should focus on guessing initial core parts and then prepare them with various dimensions and then bulk-produce them using a trusted foreign partner that has the capacity to produce quickly. And then use it and start designing the remaining parts of the engine and then bulk-produce them. This will give Indian designing and production units expertise and a learning experience in bulk-producing engines. This will also pave a way to produce more engines and aircraft per annum as per long-term war needs.

Have you forgotten that China already acquired the technology to bulk-produce UAVs and also recently acquired a foreign company that is very suitable for engine production??!! The combination of these two will result in bulk-producible UAVs in the next decade??!!

We deadly need a workaround to bulk-produce aircraft and engines. This new design must focus on these things.

We will be getting the all the knowledge and technology from our partner agency. Similarly they will be getting ours.

But since they will develop the harder parts, we will probably have to pay more. That's okay if the engine is ready for serial production by 2035.

It's a masterplan. It should be followed for the AMCA as well by roping in other countries like Philippines/Morocco for bearing some of the costs, then shifting some of the production in the respective country.

This will not only reduce our R&D costs, but get us assured export customers even before a single unit is built. Similar method was employed for JSF F-35 by USA.

 

[beencensured]

Wrong direction. Kaberi2.0 should be used in AMCAmk1 and m2. PlanB : Give this engine development to Adhani, Ambhani and TATAs with funding. I'm sure in 2 years time they can produce world class 6th gen engine.

Ambani, Tata, and Adani do nothing original or cutting-edge. They are crony capitalists and make things expensive as they do not believe in competition. Ambani and Tata go so far as to sell fruits, vegetables, and clothes, as they are shameless. Further, they use the government to do crony capitalism, like raising prices, getting land for free, taking oxygen away from startups, etc.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

It's a practical approach. They know we GTRE can't make the hot section in adequate time. Involvement of foreign OEM is necessity. Although I have huge doubt over the "learning along the way" part. But anyway, they have to be pragmatic and result oriented with this one.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Good suggestion. But hiring them will be costly affair.

Not as costly as paying the OEMs.

 

[Satish]

Good suggestion. But hiring them will be costly affair.

This hiring technique should have been done in the 60s...we could have leveraged that time...what the USA did...we should do now, or else it's the end.

 

[alpha numeric]

This hiring technique should have been done in the 60s...we could have leveraged that time...what the USA did...we should do now, or else it's the end.

I mean we did hire a talented German Designer to design HAL Marut, so it's not without precedent.

 

[Akshay Bisht]

Good opinion, but can be better:

1. Start the process for selecting a foreign OEM for 5th-gen and 6th-gen engines.
2. Start developing test engine facilities: ground-based, high-altitude-based, and on-air platform-based.
3. Restart funding for the Kaveri project to boost morale and financial support for Kaveri 1.0.
4. Start a new project, Kaveri 2.0, aiming for a wet thrust (with afterburner) of 110-140 kN, so it can replace the F414 in TEDBF.
5. Pick up the pace on the DRDO Ghatak project.

 

[Shrujanam Syama]

What nonsense is this? Can't Indian scientists design it and then use one foreign company to make those critical components and hand them over to India? Why is designing things shifted to another country? Why does design really need a foreign company? It is just that we need some critical components. India can design them first in various dimensions and then order them in bulk. Once we get that, then depending on them, design the remaining parts for the engine, and then once the engine is designed, take it to the test bed and then identify its characteristics and then do a vibration test using substructure tests or similar tests to figure out the designing parameters for the remaining tests. Why does design require the involvement of another country?

India should focus on guessing initial core parts and then prepare them with various dimensions and then bulk-produce them using a trusted foreign partner that has the capacity to produce quickly. And then use it and start designing the remaining parts of the engine and then bulk-produce them. This will give Indian designing and production units expertise and a learning experience in bulk-producing engines. This will also pave a way to produce more engines and aircraft per annum as per long-term war needs.

Have you forgotten that China already acquired the technology to bulk-produce UAVs and also recently acquired a foreign company that is very suitable for engine production??!! The combination of these two will result in bulk-producible UAVs in the next decade??!!

We deadly need a workaround to bulk-produce aircraft and engines. This new design must focus on these things.

This is just fake news. India already makes AL-31F and can design new engines too, given time. The USA, France, etc., have designed engines in the 1980s and early 1990s which are used even to this date, like M88, F414, F135, etc. No matter what, India is not 40 years behind the USA, France, etc. There may be some lag, but not so huge that India can't do anything on its own.

There will be Indian OEMs and the private sector only, no foreign OEMs. No foreign country has 110kN engines anyway, and hence it doesn't make sense that India expects a foreign country to develop an engine fully and hand it over.