British engineering major Rolls-Royce has publicly reasserted its strong interest in partnering with India to develop a new engine for the nation's future stealth fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The statement comes amid industry reports suggesting that French competitor Safran is the current favourite to win the contract.
With a final decision from the Indian government anticipated by the end of 2025, the competition highlights a crucial moment for India's strategic goal of achieving self-reliance in aerospace and defence technology.
The Strategic Importance of the AMCA Program
The AMCA is India's flagship fifth-generation aircraft program, managed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The project aims to deliver a domestically produced stealth fighter to the Indian Air Force by approximately 2035.The AMCA development is planned in two versions. The initial version, AMCA Mk-1, will be powered by the American-made General Electric F414 engine, which produces 98 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust.
However, the more advanced Mk-2 variant will require a significantly more powerful engine in the 110–130 kN thrust class.
This new power plant is considered essential not only for the AMCA but also as a foundational technology for India's future combat aircraft, including potential sixth-generation fighters and the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) for the Indian Navy.
Competing Offers from European Giants
The contest to co-develop this critical engine involves two of the world's leading aerospace manufacturers.France's Safran has emerged as a strong contender, partly due to its existing collaboration with the DRDO on reviving the indigenous Kaveri jet engine.
Safran's proposal is reportedly very attractive to New Delhi because it includes a full transfer of technology for the engine's "hot section." This core component is technologically the most complex and sensitive part of a jet engine, and no nation has ever offered such advanced technology to India before.
Safran has also pledged to establish a complete design, development, and manufacturing ecosystem in India, fully supporting the government's 'Make in India' initiative.
The United Kingdom's Rolls-Royce has countered with a proposal for a comprehensive partnership. Alex Zino, a senior executive at Rolls-Royce, confirmed that the company is actively negotiating and presenting its offer through the UK government.
The British proposal is built on developing an entirely new engine tailored for the AMCA in collaboration with India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE).
Key elements of their offer include:
- Complete Transfer of Technology (ToT): To empower India to build, maintain, and upgrade the engine independently.
- Indian Intellectual Property (IP) Ownership: A crucial clause ensuring that India would own the rights to the engine's design and technology.
- Scalable Engine Design: The proposed engine could be adapted for greater power needs in the future, potentially up to 200 kN of thrust.
The choice before India is therefore not just about selecting an engine, but about choosing a long-term strategic partner to shape the future of its aerospace defence capabilities.
