MoD Pushes GTRE to Select Rolls-Royce or Safran for AMCA Mk2 Engine Partnership by 2025 End, IPR Rights and Engine Scalability in Focus

India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has directed the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to finalise its selection of a foreign partner for developing a next-generation fighter jet engine by the end of 2025.

This critical decision, choosing between Britain’s Rolls-Royce and France’s Safran, will determine the powerplant for the advanced Mark 2 version of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the nation's flagship stealth fighter program.

The decision is a cornerstone of India's defence modernisation and its 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' policy.

The future engine, targeted to produce 110-130 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust, is essential for equipping the AMCA Mk2 with advanced capabilities. These include supercruise, which is the ability to fly at sustained supersonic speeds without the heavy fuel consumption of afterburners, as well as powering sophisticated systems like directed-energy weapons and AI-coordinated drone swarms.

While the initial AMCA Mk1 variant is scheduled to fly with an American General Electric F414 engine, the more evolved Mk2 requires a significantly more powerful and modern engine to realise its full potential as a 5.5-generation fighter.

The partnership aims to not only secure this technology but also to establish a domestic ecosystem for designing and manufacturing advanced aero-engines.

The Competing Proposals​

Bengaluru-based GTRE, a key laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is evaluating detailed proposals from both European aerospace giants.

A non-negotiable term from India is the complete ownership of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and 100% transfer of technology, ensuring strategic autonomy.

• Rolls-Royce: The British firm has offered to co-develop a new engine specifically for the AMCA, incorporating advanced features like Variable Cycle Engine (VCE) technology for greater fuel efficiency and performance. Their proposal guarantees full IPR ownership for India and leverages their experience from developing the EJ200 engine for the Eurofighter Typhoon and their work on next-generation propulsion for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
• Safran: The French company is building on its existing relationship with India through the Rafale jet's M88 engine. After initially proposing a split, Safran has now matched the offer of 100% technology transfer and IPR. Their offer promises strong industrial cooperation with GTRE. However, analysts have noted that Safran has not previously developed an engine in this high-thrust category, which presents a potential development risk.

Overcoming Past Challenges​

This push for a foreign partnership is shaped by India’s past experiences with indigenous engine development.

The Kaveri engine program, started in the 1980s, struggled to meet the thrust requirements for modern fighter jets despite decades of effort.

The project highlighted significant challenges in mastering complex metallurgy, advanced manufacturing techniques, and the lack of a robust domestic aerospace supply chain.

By collaborating with an established global leader, India aims to bridge this technological gap and accelerate its learning curve.

A Demanding Timeline for a Future-Proof Engine​

The Ministry of Defence has outlined an ambitious timeline to ensure the engine is ready for the AMCA Mk2's planned induction.

Following the partner selection in 2025, detailed negotiations will proceed in 2026.

The goal is to have the engine's critical core completed by 2030, with the full engine ready for production by 2034.

The first batch of AMCA Mk2 aircraft integrated with the new engine is expected to enter limited series production in 2035.

Both Rolls-Royce and Safran have proposed a modular engine design. This will allow for future upgrades, potentially increasing thrust to 145 kN.

Such scalability ensures the engine will remain relevant for decades, positioning it as a potential powerplant for a future 6th-generation fighter that could eventually replace the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI fleet after 2040.

The final decision by GTRE will therefore have a long-lasting impact on India's air combat capabilities and its journey toward self-reliance in defence technology.

 

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[Hawkeye]

RR most probably if they want the engine on time.

 

[sanket]

It's RR. Safran hasn't fulfilled the offset clause under the 36 Rafale purchase. 100% of components should be manufactured in Bharat for all prototypes. No components should be imported from the foreign engine partner. While Safran wants to supply some hot core components from France, although they have improved on the offer from 50% to 100%, RR offers a distinct engine from GCAP, while France may use funds for its own engine developments like M88-TREX and for FCAS projects. The most important thing to be seen is the project cost of engine development by both foreign engine partners. The French have also not been willing to share Rafale ToT, source code, and starting the final assembly line in Bharat with a local private player. We already have a bitter taste with the French; it's time now for RR.

 

[Alok Gupta]

I feel India should sign up with RR and not CFM. CFM is greedy and only there for the money. They have history with the Shakti engines and also with so-called assistance for the Kaveri engine. The French will not give full ToT for the engine.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

They should speed up decision making process so that more time is spent on actual development.

 

[Mag Gal]

RR most probably if they want the engine on time.

The prudent idea is to have both of them and pay in tranches based on milestones, just like how corporates do it, like the VWG-Rivian deal or the VWG-QS deal.

Or even how the US government does both Boeing and Lockheed for each new fighter.

Miss a milestone, and payment gets delayed; eventually, one will emerge as the winner, and the path becomes clearer.

 

[Anonymus]

RR most probably if they want the engine on time.

Both companies never made high-thrust engines, but Rolls-Royce, which made an engine that has the highest thrust of 90kN, required investment from four countries and almost 10 years for the first prototype flight.

Meanwhile, the M88 project started in 1986, and by 1990, the first prototype was ready and tested. So, by timeline management, Safran has a higher chance of getting the deal. Safran earlier also provided their helicopter engine TOT for Dhruv and is currently under talks for providing Aneto engines for IMRH.

 

[Kira]

RR has a better history of delivering, as they need the funds for future development of engines and already have a proven record of developing higher-thrust engines.

 

[Parthasarathi DasGupta]

Definitely Rolls-Royce. They are a proven engine maker. And above all there is a FTA between India and Britain.

 

[Saurabh Jindal]

As RR is already working on 6th gen engines, there is a higher chance of completion of the project on time and also a spinoff from the 6th gen to our 5th gen engine program. Also, off late, the French experience is a bit bitter. They claim more than they deliver. Rafale turned out an average fighter, not what they claim. Their so-called Spectra EW failed to defend it from Chinese A2A itself speaks how big-mouthed they are to milk the Indian cow.

 

[Hawkeye]

Both companies never made high-thrust engines, but Rolls-Royce, which made an engine that has the highest thrust of 90kN, required investment from four countries and almost 10 years for the first prototype flight.

Meanwhile, the M88 project started in 1986, and by 1990, the first prototype was ready and tested. So, by timeline management, Safran has a higher chance of getting the deal. Safran earlier also provided their helicopter engine TOT for Dhruv and is currently under talks for providing Aneto engines for IMRH.

RR made EJ200's predecessor, XG-40. They are also part of EJ200. They were also part of the engine development contest for the F-35. GE and RR teamed up and made an engine, F136, for the F-35, but Lockheed and the Pentagon decided to go with local manufacturer Pratt & Whitney instead. So, they have better experience making engines for both 4th and 5th-gen jets. They won't take much time, whereas France has to start everything from scratch as they don't have experience making a 5th-gen engine.

 

[Hawkeye]

The prudent idea is to have both of them and pay in tranches based on milestones, just like how corporates do it, like the VWG-Rivian deal or the VWG-QS deal.

Or even how the US government does both Boeing and Lockheed for each new fighter.

Miss a milestone, and payment gets delayed; eventually, one will emerge as the winner, and the path becomes clearer.

It will be very expensive and a lot of time overruns; we can't afford that. AMCA is already too late.

 

[Mag Gal]

It will be very expensive and a lot of time overruns; we can't afford that. AMCA is already too late.

Says you, really, engines aren’t an overnight thing and not cheap either. That’s how quatumscape developed a solid state battery, (a holy grail of battery tech),

Sorry that’s a lazy argument. With costs and time, I think this is one way to establish accountability and get it going fast.

 

[Bks98]

Since Rolls-Royce already has experience of making big-capacity engines, whereas Safran doesn't, Rolls-Royce could be a better choice. Also, they are making 6th-generation engines in parallel.

 

[Dabang Kafir]

Do collaboration with Japan. Rest the above mentioned two companies are unreliable.

 

[swatkats_razor]

Get both. Fit Safran's on one side and fit RR's on the other.

I mean, come on. RR has a history of producing different kinds of engines from small to the largest. It's a walk in the park for RR to deliver an uprated existing engine, calling it bleeding edge, while at the same time keeping the best for themselves.

Safran is known to be an expert at delivering smaller but ultra-frugal engines. Something like a 130 kN engine will be top-notch for themselves too (M88-2 is still not in the 100 kN category), so the question applies to them: will the French be ready yet to share their best?

While on the onset the French offer seems more sincere because RR has many customers, not trusting another country in international diplomacy is the best life insurance policy there is.

 

[kumar]

If we go with RR, then funding should be based on clear milestones achieved. We can't have them take us for a ride and the Brits anyway need money. Also, production facilities must be set up within the country from the initial stages itself, and our scientists and engineers must be fully involved during engine development.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to choose a reliable partner with a road map on developing it and finally when it’s ready for production to start. Another key consideration is the price they have to pay while developing and testing it along with the final cost per engine we will have to pay.

The best option would be to go with Safran as we already have a close relationship with them, the company is reliable, their technology is advanced, their engine are reliable, it has a long lifespan and its independent from the USA-UK influence and the pressure they put on our decisions and policies that suits them only.

 

[JB]

For 5th gen jets it is a choice between P&W and Izdeliye - nothing else comes close. For 6th gen adaptive cycle jets the choice is between P&W (NGAP} and Safran/MTU (FCAS). Yet again the decision is not driven by military considerations. A sad conundrum is that both Tejas & AMCA were designed before an engine and EW systems were identified which goes against all paradigms of modern jet development technology causing the IAF to shoulder a heat burden.

 

[P10]

Go with Safran. RR is equally qualified or maybe better but by early 2030s, Pakistanis will control most of UK, negatively impacting the project.

Also, US can always remote control UK companies, potentially delaying the project.

 

[Gary Watts]

Interesting but you miss the most important aspect. RR has a dedicated power subsidiary, The NG fighters will be power hungry and highly reliant on onboard generation systems. GCAP is slated to carry lasers. It’s not just engines but conversion to power electronic warfare systems. As someone looking in it’s a no brainer.

 

[Ashish Kumar]

It's RR. Safran hasn't fulfilled the offset clause under the 36 Rafale purchase. 100% of components should be manufactured in Bharat for all prototypes. No components should be imported from the foreign engine partner. While Safran wants to supply some hot core components from France, although they have improved on the offer from 50% to 100%, RR offers a distinct engine from GCAP, while France may use funds for its own engine developments like M88-TREX and for FCAS projects. The most important thing to be seen is the project cost of engine development by both foreign engine partners. The French have also not been willing to share Rafale ToT, source code, and starting the final assembly line in Bharat with a local private player. We already have a bitter taste with the

I still feel we should go with AL-51F as it is already in advanced stage of development while any 5th or 6th generation fighter required enough amount of thrust to power subsystem like MUMT TEAMING & DEW system to be incorporated.Both this powerplant is immature in terms of any development.Safran is rigid with M88 engine which is underrated thrust while Rolls royce with complete New engine will minimum take 10 years to develop.At short Russia scientist along with GTRE should work together to improve the AL 51 F.Russia is the only country who can give 100 TOT of any strategic equipment to India.Rest will just mur mur.