Opinion India Finally Harnesses French Connection for Fighter Engine Tech...

In an almost radical shift, India is going the French way for the co-development of a 110kN engine for its upcoming, indigenous 5th generation fighter jet program, the AMCA, which was originally going to be powered by the GE's F414.

The shift comes amid GE's inordinate delays on the deliveries of F404 and F414 engines to India which power the Tejas Mk1 & Mk1A and Mk2 respectively and has delayed the production schedules of these fighters.

The decision to go for the M88 engine for AMCA yesterday, as many industry watchers (like me) had been rooting relentlessly for a long time to de-risk the strategically significant program, would reduce India's dependence on the U.S. while also negating Trump's threats of tariffs and sanctions over Russian oil.

Also, it makes sense from the scale economics perspective as India already operates Rafales for its Air Force & has ordered them for the Navy as well.

France has been India's strategic defence partner for decades for its independent foreign policy posture with India first buying the Dassault's Mirage-2000 jets in the1980s and has followed them up with the Rafales in the 21st century.

However, the co-development agreement is likely to take it to an altogether new level as Safran is also developing the variable cycle engine for the 6th generation FCAS fighter program and plans to incorporate advanced technologies from that into the existing M88 engines powering Rafales and stands to gain a lot from that in future for its Air Force's and Naval Rafales...

 

Major Indian defence rejig sees CRPF securing Jammu, freeing Army units for China and Pakistan borders

[SandeepGupta]

I do not why India opted for Saffron when they have technology for Static Core of 78 KN Dry and 137KN Wet Engine with Upgraded Annular Combustor 375KN Dry and with New Afterburner technology 400KN. The Earlier Core of 49 KN Dry is my material technology. The New Upgraded Core and all above material science technology given by me already. They decided to go for Saffron all O.K. but all my technologies be protected as not for sale or passing on to others or foreign govt. or any Indian or foreign companies or corporate or individuals or group or otherwise.