In a potential milestone for India’s defence manufacturing sector, Rolls-Royce has revealed its readiness to transfer complete technology, including Intellectual Property (IP) rights, for the indigenous production of tank engines in India.
The British engineering giant has partnered with two Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and is currently awaiting final approval from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to operationalise the agreement.
A Major Shift in Defence Manufacturing
According to a senior executive at Rolls-Royce, this initiative represents one of the most comprehensive technology transfer packages ever offered by a global engine manufacturer to India.Enrico Spadaro, Senior Vice President at Rolls-Royce Solutions Asia, confirmed the development alongside G.S. Selwyn, Managing Director of MTU India.
The company has structured its partnership to cater to two distinct requirements: one DPSU will focus on the heavy engines for the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT), while the other will handle the versatile Series 199 family of engines for lighter platforms.
Ending Import Dependency for the Arjun Tank
The Indian Army’s Arjun MBT has long been powered by the MB838 Ka-501 engine, manufactured by MTU (a Rolls-Royce Power Systems subsidiary).This 1,400-horsepower, liquid-cooled V10 engine has historically been fully imported from Germany, with only maintenance and overhaul activities conducted domestically.
Under the new proposal, Rolls-Royce is offering to shift the entire manufacturing ecosystem for the MB838 engine to India. This "full transfer" of technology would grant India ownership of the IP rights, enabling the selected Indian DPSU to manufacture every engineering component locally.
If approved, this move would effectively eliminate reliance on foreign supply chains for the Arjun fleet, a critical step towards the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Next-Generation Solutions for Future Combat Vehicles
Beyond the Arjun program, Rolls-Royce is positioning its modern Series 199 (S199) engine family for India's upcoming armoured vehicle projects.These highly adaptable engines, capable of generating between 450 hp and 1,500 hp, are designed for both tracked and wheeled platforms. The company is pitching the S199 for several key Indian Army programs, including:
- The Light Tank (Project Zorawar): Currently in the prototype phase (utilising a Cummins engine), future production batches will require a robust, indigenous power solution.
- The Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV): A planned replacement for the aging BMP-2 fleet.
- The Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV): The next-generation main battle tank program.
- Heavy Mobility Vehicles (HMV): High-terrain logistics and transport trucks.
Strategic Partnerships and Industry Engagement
Rolls-Royce has already commenced discussions with major private players in the Indian defence sector, including Larsen & Toubro (L&T)—development partners for the Zorawar Light Tank—as well as Tata and Mahindra.However, the company has clarified that the final selection of engines for these new platforms will strictly follow the MoD’s formal procurement procedures.
Strategic Impact
If the MoD grants clearance, this partnership would transform India into one of the few global hubs capable of manufacturing heavy armoured vehicle engines from scratch.By securing full IP rights, India would not only ensure the long-term sustainability of the Arjun MBT but also acquire the critical know-how to design and build engines for future indigenous tank families.
