Opinion Why a Rolls-Royce Partnership Could Be India's Best Bet for a 6th Generation Jet Engine

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has expressed a keen interest in international collaboration to accelerate the development of its 6th generation jet engine.

This engine is not only intended to power the upcoming 5th generation AMCA fighter jet but also future 6th generation aircraft. Among the potential partners—Safran, Rolls-Royce, and GE—Rolls-Royce stands out as a particularly promising contender.

The Tempest Connection​

A significant factor in Rolls-Royce's favor is its active participation in the Team Tempest program, a dedicated initiative aimed at creating a 6th generation fighter jet. This involvement showcases Rolls-Royce's advanced research and expertise in 6th generation engine technology.

Next-Generation Features​

Rolls-Royce has publicly highlighted key features of the engine they are developing for Team Tempest, which align remarkably well with India's needs:

• Propulsion Design Integration: The engine will be fully integrated with the airframe, optimizing overall performance, range, and payload capacity. This translates to a more efficient and agile aircraft.
• Advanced Thermal Management: The engine will function as a heat sink, reusing thermal energy within the system. This eliminates the need for overboard venting, improving overall efficiency.
• Next-Gen Power Generation: The engine will offer increased electrical power generation capabilities, along with an intelligent power management system. This addresses the growing demand for onboard electrical systems in modern fighter jets.

The Case for Collaboration​

Given India's ambitions for a future-proof 6th generation engine, Rolls-Royce presents a compelling case. Their experience with the Tempest program and the cutting-edge features they've outlined position them as a leader in 6th generation engine technology.

While discussions are ongoing with all three potential partners, India's existing strategic partnership with Rolls-Royce through the Tempest program and their focus on 6th generation engine development make them a strong candidate for co-developing India's next-generation jet engine.

 

[Anant]

Rolls-Royce one of the rich tech and years of experience in making aeronautical engines even many American flying machines having RR engines.
since longtime RR offering engine technology with I P rights and ToT, but Indian government kept silent. I think because of the deal of American loby which was delivered f404 engines without tot.
what is the interest of a government taking without tot or ip rights.
others offering the same. It shows the kick backs in the sarkari politicians and babus are deffenatly behind this.

Um, Rolls Royce has not developed a fighter engine by itself for several decades. The last one they developed was the Turbo-Union RB199 (used on the Panavia Tornado), and that was in collaboration with MTU (Germany) and Aeritalia (Italy). Moreover, the RB199 debuted in 1971. The only other engine they kind of have had a hand in in recent times is the Eurojet EJ2000 engine (used on the Eurofighter Typhoon), and even that is based off a Rolls Royce technology demonstrator from the 1980s.

Don't get me wrong. Rolls Royce builds excellent engines for commercial aircraft, but you can't exactly use them in fighters. RR also builds marine engines.

So, no, RR was not offering any engines with ToT or IP rights (and where exactly did you get the idea that someone would just randomly offer IPR?) when the F404 was shortlisted for the Tejas Mk 1/2 programs. The other engine in contention was the EJ2000, and that was proving to be more expensive.

 

[Anant]

is any one available apart from these 3 companies. ?

I mean, if you are willing to wait until the 23rd century or something, just give it to GTRE. They'll probably manage it by then.

 

[Anant]

I'm tired of these news stories. It seems like every other day, something is written, and people end up discussing all sorts of nonsense in the comments.

Here is an idea: If you don't like it, ignore it and move on.

 

[Akshat]

We should probably add 2-3 years to his estimates, in all honesty.

Right now I think it’s pretty much confirmed that Safran is gonna win this one. So the delay is more likely to be in the negotiations, political constraints and maybe any delays from the DRDO in terms of technical aspects. And all of these have no fixed timeframe.

 

[sanket]

Um, French R&D isn't much cheaper than American R&D. For instance, the developmental costs for the F-16 (all the way up to the F-16 Block 50/52 variants), adjusted to 2024 dollars, comes to around 60 billion USD. On the other hand, Rafale development (up to the Rafale F2 standard), again, adjusted to 2024 USD, came to around 54.5 billion USD.

Now, for a fair comparison, you'd have to factor in Rafale F3 development costs in as well, which I was unable to find. That said, though, it is more than likely that once added, the two aircraft would have had similar developmental costs.

F-16 is single Engine Fighter Jet While Rafale is Twin Engine F-16 is 4+ Gen while Rafale is 4.5+ Gen weapon carrying capacity is more, weapon package is Huge difference it take 3 F-16 against one Rafale I havent mention Spectra E/W rest u understand Difference between Master Piece & one which was killed by Vintage MIG-21 in 2019 by India.

 

[Shrujanam Syama]

F-16 is single Engine Fighter Jet While Rafale is Twin Engine F-16 is 4+ Gen while Rafale is 4.5+ Gen weapon carrying capacity is more, weapon package is Huge difference it take 3 F-16 against one Rafale I havent mention Spectra E/W rest u understand Difference between Master Piece & one which was killed by Vintage MIG-21 in 2019 by India.

Rafale & F16 are both 4th gen fighters, The 4.5gen is just bogus claim by French. Rafale was developed in 1991 as a successor to Mirage 2000. 1990s hardly had any meaningful stealth designs as the computers and software were not as powerful as today

 

[sanket]

Rafale & F16 are both 4th gen fighters, The 4.5gen is just bogus claim by French. Rafale was developed in 1991 as a successor to Mirage 2000. 1990s hardly had any meaningful stealth designs as the computers and software were not as powerful as today

F-22 was developed in 1990 then what u will call for that Fighter jet, F-35 not even supercruised, F-35 is mostly for Ground Attack then what will u call it .

 

[Pad UwU]

look what I'm saying RR's are one of the top active in engine research especially in this article it didn't even mention that RR's is in talks with IHI Japan who's an engine developer that was active in Japan's effort for its own 5gen (x2 shin-shin) but drop it in favor with join Japan's vision to go all the way with Team Tempest of Italy and Japan....

and I know many hater here hate this company just because it's a stupid British 😹😹😹 and they still malding and coping 🙃😜

 

[Sandeep]

100% technology transfer is not the part of deal With Safran hence RR reapproached with proposition of 100% tech transfer

A deal has already been signed with Safran as nobody else was going to give us 100% of the technology and production so RR had a chance. Read the link I quoted which clearly states that.

 

[Anant]

F-16 is single Engine Fighter Jet While Rafale is Twin Engine F-16 is 4+ Gen while Rafale is 4.5+ Gen weapon carrying capacity is more, weapon package is Huge difference it take 3 F-16 against one Rafale I havent mention Spectra E/W rest u understand Difference between Master Piece & one which was killed by Vintage MIG-21 in 2019 by India.

The Americans also developed an entirely new variant of the F-16 within the same-ish price tag. The Rafale F4 has also proven to be extremely expensive to develop, while the F-16V is already ready and being sold.

I understand that the Rafale is more complex than the F-16, but the numbers simply suggest that while the French might be somewhat more cost-efficient in R&D, the difference between the two nations' R&D cost-effectiveness isn't too wide.

 

[sanket]

The Americans also developed an entirely new variant of the F-16 within the same-ish price tag. The Rafale F4 has also proven to be extremely expensive to develop, while the F-16V is already ready and being sold.

I understand that the Rafale is more complex than the F-16, but the numbers simply suggest that while the French might be somewhat more cost-efficient in R&D, the difference between the two nations' R&D cost-effectiveness isn't too wide.

MRFA is good platform for Evaluation of US vs French Fighter jet. wait see the winner.when u compare with Twin Engine there is No comparision between F-16 & Rafale .US have pitched 3 Fighter jets F-21,F-18 & F-15Ex U can compare there Developmental Cost with Rafale What is Final product which is better .Fair Comparison would b F-15EX or F-18 both are Twin Engine .

 

[Pad UwU]

This article is just a repeat news of something that has already been decided.

India signed a deal with France last year to develop a brand new 5th generation jet where India will receive 100% of the technology and get to make it all in India. The main benefit is that India will get to learn how to design it, what metallurgy is required and engineering involved. This will make us independent to develop our own engines in future.

Also to those people who don’t think a deal has been made then read the link below.

France's Safran and DRDO to jointly make combat aircraft engine

The announcement was made after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Safran and DRDO also decided to support industrial cooperation for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) programme with Safran...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Safran didn't offer full 100% ToT's...
RR's approach us instead with fully 100% ToT's and IP ownership if we choose to partner with the to develop a Indian specific engine that base on RR's technology that we can use and export

 

[Shrujanam Syama]

F-22 was developed in 1990 then what u will call for that Fighter jet, F-35 not even supercruised, F-35 is mostly for Ground Attack then what will u call it .

USA was the one to develop the computers, not France. USA hence had better technology & design capability in 1990s while France did not. You may not like F35 but USA has developed it with a reason and it is not a technological failure and has nothing to do with technology or F22.

Coming back to point, Rafale is 4th gen and French as usual make big claims and say that Spectra makes Rafales 4.5gen which is false. Spectra is just an advanced EW which is software based and not real stealth of the plane itself. Even F16 can have advanced EW.

 

[Sandeep]

Safran didn't offer full 100% ToT's...
RR's approach us instead with fully 100% ToT's and IP ownership if we choose to partner with the to develop a Indian specific engine that base on RR's technology that we can use and export

No they didn’t because otherwise we would have signed a deal with them. Both the USA and UK denied giving 100% of it to India.