Safran's 110kN Engine Can Also Power Tejas Mk2 if India Chooses it for AMCA Program, Says French Aerospace Giant

French aerospace giant Safran is making a strong bid to collaborate with India on the development of a powerful 110kN engine for the nation's ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.

In a move that could significantly impact India's fighter jet landscape, Safran has revealed that this new engine could also be integrated into the Tejas Mk2 if India decides to move away from the currently planned General Electric F-414 engine.

This revelation comes as India is actively pursuing local production of the F-414 to power its Tejas Mk2 fleet. However, the potential availability of a more powerful, domestically produced engine in the same timeframe presents a compelling alternative for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Safran projects that its 110kN engine will be ready for production around 2033-34, coinciding with the expected production timeline of the Tejas Mk2, slated to begin around 2029-30. This alignment offers India a unique opportunity to reassess its engine strategy for the Tejas Mk2, especially as the IAF anticipates receiving 120 of these jets by the late 2030s.

The IAF's future operational requirements, including the need for enhanced thrust and evolving air superiority challenges, could sway the decision in favor of Safran's offering. The 110kN engine could provide a significant performance boost to the Tejas Mk2, potentially influencing future orders and upgrades.

While India remains committed to its indigenous defence production goals, with ongoing discussions centered on localizing the F-414 engine production, Safran's proposal introduces a new dynamic.

The decision to adopt the 110kN engine for the Tejas Mk2 would involve careful consideration of technical compatibility, strategic operational needs, and geopolitical factors.

Safran's proposition highlights the evolving landscape of India's fighter jet programs. As the race to develop the 110kN engine for the AMCA intensifies, the potential implications for the Tejas Mk2 are becoming increasingly evident. The adaptability of Safran's engine to the Tejas platform could provide the IAF with valuable options to bolster its aerial capabilities in the years to come.

 

[NSR]

It is very simple.

All India has to do is to create enough space to accommodate the present generation 110 kN fighter engine dimensions so India can rework inside to seamlessly install whatever it manages to develop from its own Kaveri derivatives or from collaboration with foreigh OEMs.

No need to worry too much about what fighter engine India may end up with.

 

[sandy 007]

100 Times I have written AMCA 110 Kn Engine will b integrated on AMCA TEDBF, Tejas MK2 & Rafale too, Bharat will have roughly closed 200 Rafale version Including Rafale M & Follow-on order not Ruled out in Future , since production Line is likely to start Locally , A common Engine of 110 kN for French FCAS & AMCA with Joint IPR & Budget too will shared most likely unlike GE & RR likely Just consultant offer with 100% Invest by Bharat, One of major advantage of this 110 kN Engine will b dependency on US engine will end , Bharat alreay has plans to develop kaveri derivative with 90 kN Thrust that will b integrated in Tejas MK1A that will make US free Engine Fighters jets , Thats the plans Once become Atmanirbhar GE will b kick out

HAL must ask safran for this M88 engine and start doing the paper work with them, I am sure the way US has put so much hardal to stop the manufacturing of tejas they can do it in future also. Were as they are supplying F404 engine to Korea and helping them a lot in production.
when it comes to India they are back stabbing.
secondly what ever Indian govt want to do with them let them do but Air force must prepare their mindset now. Refine more Tejas MK2 and test And do R&D with M88 engine also. This is high time otherwise Tejas program can be in limbo.
let the US show teeth don't care about GE and Their super boss sitting in India. They are all here to make money and holding our precious projects.
We must understand that what they did with Cryogenic engine they literally screwed our scientists and projects, Old habit dies hard.

 

[Sandeep]

India should quickly make this deal with France and develop a brand new engine which even they can use on the Rafale jets which currently have a lower thrust rate. We can also swap our F404 engine for Tejas MK1A and our F414 on our Tejas MK2 if they can install it on our jet because it’s better to use an indigenous engine.

The key to this deal is that we get 100% of the technology, intellectual property right, manufacture it entirely in India and with Indian content.

Another important point is that we get to learn on how to develop an engine and all of the science, engineering, precision, mechanics and metallurgy that’s involved in developing a 5th generation engine.

 

[RG]

only 75KN max. wet thrusts from M88-2 Safran engines now.....

Saffran has the capability for higher KN engine, M-53 in Mirage -2000 is 90KN engine. based on Wikipedia Saffran has at least design concept for M88-3 and M88-4 with 90KN-100KN. I think they can scale it to higher capacity based on their experience. French product charge more, but they deliver and come with least string attached.

 

[Pad UwU]

100 Times I have written AMCA 110 Kn Engine will b integrated on AMCA TEDBF, Tejas MK2 & Rafale too, Bharat will have roughly closed 200 Rafale version Including Rafale M & Follow-on order not Ruled out in Future , since production Line is likely to start Locally , A common Engine of 110 kN for French FCAS & AMCA with Joint IPR & Budget too will shared most likely unlike GE & RR likely Just consultant offer with 100% Invest by Bharat, One of major advantage of this 110 kN Engine will b dependency on US engine will end , Bharat alreay has plans to develop kaveri derivative with 90 kN Thrust that will b integrated in Tejas MK1A that will make US free Engine Fighters jets , Thats the plans Once become Atmanirbhar GE will b kick out

A 110kn engine variant from Safran m88 engine is not enough for their FCAS NGF 6gen fighter LMAO 😹😹😹.... Their aircraft will be a laser and super computer centric EW mothership of drones... 110kn power is not enough thinking it's enough too for AMCA 5gen that sooner or later HAL will come into conclusion that they will call it 10gen🙃

For your info, Safran m88 is struggling to boost up it's power without any experience and help from outside country.... They only getting attention because of the CFM JV

 

[Pad UwU]

Safran 110 kn m88 engine are all talks they should show us first it's overhype claim and integrate it so we can see if it fly's 😹😹😹

 

[Rinku Pandey]

If we spend the foreign exchange on private companies, a lot can be done with less cash.

No need to spend foreign exchange as already our currency is sliding down. Develop and Refine Kaveri 2.0,3.0 and stick it in mk1A,2,3 AMCA, ORCA, TEBDF.

 

[Dredd]

How is it sufficient? Its payload is low because of its weak engine. Mig29 (not Mig29K which is aircraft carrier version) has higher payload than Rafale. France does false advertising of Rafale having MToW of 24tons. AT 24tons, it can barely lift off after a long runway which is impractical. The usable max weight is 21-22 tons only. Mig29 has usable max weight of 25tons. This is a huge difference.

Mig29 max weapon payload capacity is 6 ton and Rafale is 9.5 ton, I am not sure about the naval version but there also rafale will have more payload capacity, Rafale also carry many sensor internally while same has to be put on pod in MiG29 which takes up hardpoints. Engine in Rafale are also much efficient compare to RD33 of Mig29 giving better range.

 

[What the heck]

even if you say 100 times more, 200 rafale are never going to happen and 110KN engine on rafale is even more unlikely.
safran succeeding engine development partner contract is not likely due to costs they are demanding.

I read an article in Reuters, it’s an old article, but it clearly explains IAF’s actual intention, they actually wanted to buy 200-300 single engine jets, so it is either F16 or SAAB Gripen.

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/india-offers-to-buy-200-foreign-combat-jets-if-they-re-made-in-india-idUSKCN12T0GL/

 

[PKPRS]

I read an article in Reuters, it’s an old article, but it clearly explains IAF’s actual intention, they actually wanted to buy 200-300 single engine jets, so it is either F16 or SAAB Gripen.

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/india-offers-to-buy-200-foreign-combat-jets-if-they-re-made-in-india-idUSKCN12T0GL/

My assesment is accurate, I also thought they will go for either F16 or SAAB Gripen, so Rafale and Rafale Dalals 👋✋ au revoir.

 

[Akshat]

Yes, it runs faster but with less payload. That is not good.

If you are considering max weight-empty weight, then Rafale is almost at the same level as F18. 14 tons vs 15 tons. But F18 has to burn more fuel for their engines which means net payload is the same.

Tejas is not even in the same category.

But Rafale can carry enough AAMa and can super cruise with them, which is very very useful.

 

[V K Singh]

Safran latest engine, with TOT and production in India will be a boost for Indian Aeronautic sector and defence production. It will fill an important gap in defence production . Best option by not depending on USA or Russia for this important engine.

 

[Avatar]

We should start production of GE-414 & Safran 110KN engines side by side to achieve timely delivery of initial batch of MK2 and more power in next batch. AMCA requirement will also be achieved

I wouldn't go for Safran engine. The French are too greedy and slow in everything. Best cholce will be RR or GE.