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I’ve been following the AMCA engine saga closely, and I can’t help but feel disappointed its current direction. So, who are the competitors and what are they offering? Here's Safran's original offer- A 4th gen core, no Variable Cycle Engine (VCE)- while they quietly kept their real 6th gen clean-sheet program with VCE to themselves. On top of that, they came in asking for 50% IPR. Basically: “You pay, we own half.” Classic old playbook.
Now contrast that with Rolls-Royce. From day one, RR laid their cards on the table: clean-sheet, 6th gen design, VCE included, 100% IPR transfer from the start. No fine print, no shifting goalposts. That’s what you call a rock-solid partner.
And here’s the kicker- Safran only “matched” RR’s 100% IPR offer when it became painfully obvious they were about to lose the bid. That says everything. One side tried to nickel-and-dime India, the other treated it like a true strategic partner from day one.
Beyond VCE, 6th gen engines integrate advanced materials like CMCs capable of withstanding much higher combustion temperatures, which increases thermal efficiency and extends service life. They also incorporate full-authority digital engine controls (FADEC), allowing precision tuning for every phase of flight and adaptive response to damage or enemy action. They are slated to feature predictive maintenance, which incorporates sensors on the engine feeding real-time data to its digital twin, using AI and machine learning to predict maintenance issues and optimize service schedules.
Other key aspects include stealthy infrared signatures, reducing detection by enemy sensors, and high electrical output, which is critical for powering directed energy weapons (lasers), advanced radars, electronic warfare systems, and more. These engines essentially become enablers of the whole 6th gen fighter package- without them, aircraft can’t fully exploit speed, range, stealth, survivability, or future weapon integration.
Rolls-Royce: Clean-sheet 6th gen WITH VCE, incorporating all of the aforementioned 6th generation technologies. It promises to be modular and scalable, with adjustments to the fan stages facilitating an increase of thrust-class to 130-140kn. Promised 100% IPR to India from the start- no shifting goalposts. Offer has remained the same since the year it was put forth, contrasting with Safran. Though it does have a slightly longer timeline at ~13 years.
BUT: India needs to ask itself whether the 3 years shorter timeline NOW, is worth being obsolete 3 decades earlier THEN? RR's offer is only ~3 years longer, at ~13 years.
However: it promises to leapfrog India from the bottom of the pecking order in terms of engine capability, right to the top alongside the US and Europe, and be relevant to 2050 and beyond. Safran's offer, on the other hand, is dead on arrival. Its the core of an engine developed in the 1990s, which is inherently lesser than modern engines- make no mistake, this engine will leave India behind the rest of the world, again.
When you line it up, the choice is obvious. India can’t afford to get saddled with yesterday’s tech and half-baked ownership. If we’re building AMCA to stand toe-to-toe with the best, the engine program has to be future-proof- not a hand-me-down.
Now contrast that with Rolls-Royce. From day one, RR laid their cards on the table: clean-sheet, 6th gen design, VCE included, 100% IPR transfer from the start. No fine print, no shifting goalposts. That’s what you call a rock-solid partner.
And here’s the kicker- Safran only “matched” RR’s 100% IPR offer when it became painfully obvious they were about to lose the bid. That says everything. One side tried to nickel-and-dime India, the other treated it like a true strategic partner from day one.
What is the 6th generation of engines, and why is it so important?
6th generation fighter engines aren’t just about more thrust- they’re about flexibility, efficiency, and multi-role capability. The core feature is the Variable Cycle Engine (VCE), which physically adjusts airflow paths mid-flight. In practice, this means the engine can switch from a low-bypass mode- giving maximum thrust and speed for dogfighting or supersonic dash- to a high-bypass mode, which prioritizes fuel efficiency and loiter time for long missions. No old 4th or 5th gen engine can do that on the fly.Beyond VCE, 6th gen engines integrate advanced materials like CMCs capable of withstanding much higher combustion temperatures, which increases thermal efficiency and extends service life. They also incorporate full-authority digital engine controls (FADEC), allowing precision tuning for every phase of flight and adaptive response to damage or enemy action. They are slated to feature predictive maintenance, which incorporates sensors on the engine feeding real-time data to its digital twin, using AI and machine learning to predict maintenance issues and optimize service schedules.
Other key aspects include stealthy infrared signatures, reducing detection by enemy sensors, and high electrical output, which is critical for powering directed energy weapons (lasers), advanced radars, electronic warfare systems, and more. These engines essentially become enablers of the whole 6th gen fighter package- without them, aircraft can’t fully exploit speed, range, stealth, survivability, or future weapon integration.
Comparing Safran and RR's offer
Safran: 4th gen core, without VCE capabilities, stretched to its limits with 5th gen avionics integrated. Lack of modularity/ scalability because of its inherent 4th gen core. Attempted to hold 50% IPR for an engine which would be obsolete from the start, only switched to 100% once RR was leading. The timeline is quoted to be ~10 years from start to finish.Rolls-Royce: Clean-sheet 6th gen WITH VCE, incorporating all of the aforementioned 6th generation technologies. It promises to be modular and scalable, with adjustments to the fan stages facilitating an increase of thrust-class to 130-140kn. Promised 100% IPR to India from the start- no shifting goalposts. Offer has remained the same since the year it was put forth, contrasting with Safran. Though it does have a slightly longer timeline at ~13 years.
My opinion
Here's my two cents on this. IF India wants to leapfrog to the top in terms of engine technology and manufacturing, RR's offer is the clear choice. It pushes the frontiers of military engines, while offering modularity and the technological edge against rivals like China, and to a lesser extent, Pakistan. One offer here dwarfs the other- and that is RR to Safran. A 4th gen core with no VCE, as upgraded as it is with 5th gen avionics, does not even remotely match up to RR's 6th gen design, which of course features VCE. Safran's timeline is ~3 years shorter than RR's, being ~10 years.BUT: India needs to ask itself whether the 3 years shorter timeline NOW, is worth being obsolete 3 decades earlier THEN? RR's offer is only ~3 years longer, at ~13 years.
However: it promises to leapfrog India from the bottom of the pecking order in terms of engine capability, right to the top alongside the US and Europe, and be relevant to 2050 and beyond. Safran's offer, on the other hand, is dead on arrival. Its the core of an engine developed in the 1990s, which is inherently lesser than modern engines- make no mistake, this engine will leave India behind the rest of the world, again.
When you line it up, the choice is obvious. India can’t afford to get saddled with yesterday’s tech and half-baked ownership. If we’re building AMCA to stand toe-to-toe with the best, the engine program has to be future-proof- not a hand-me-down.
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