India to produce next-generation fighter jet engine with French support and technology transfer
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According to information published by The Economic Times on August 25, 2025, India and France are preparing to launch an unprecedented collaboration to co-develop and manufacture a next-generation fighter jet engine that will power India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The agreement, valued at $7 billion, brings together India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and French aerospace leader Safran in a program that will deliver a 120-kilonewton-class engine fully designed, tested, and built in India with complete transfer of technology.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
India and France will co-develop a 120 kN jet engine to power the AMCA stealth fighter, marking a breakthrough in indigenous propulsion and a major boost for India’s aerospace industry (Picture source: © Army Recognition based on visuals from Wikimedia).
The project represents a decisive leap in India’s drive for defense self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Safran’s proposal, cleared by the DRDO, was selected as the most technically and economically viable solution and will be executed in cooperation with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). For the first time, India will manufacture a high-thrust fighter engine on its own soil, positioning the country among a select group capable of producing advanced propulsion systems for fifth-generation aircraft.
The engine is designed as a 120 kN afterburning turbofan, the most powerful fighter propulsion system ever planned for production in India. The roadmap foresees the rollout of five prototypes by 2027, a first flight test in 2028, certification by 2032, and series production by 2035. The design emphasizes high thrust-to-weight ratio, compatibility with stealth requirements through reduced infrared and radar signatures, and sustained performance for supercruise. While not adopting adaptive-cycle technology currently under development in the United States, the AMCA engine will integrate cutting-edge European and Indian expertise to meet next-generation demands.
The new engine is intended to equip the AMCA Mk II variant, the production standard of India’s stealth fighter, while the earlier Mk I version will rely on the US-built GE F414 engine. The AMCA program envisions a twin-engine multirole platform capable of air superiority, deep strike, suppression of enemy air defenses, and electronic warfare. With projected speeds of Mach 2, internal weapons bays holding 1.5 tonnes, external payloads up to 5 tonnes, and supercruise capability, the AMCA’s combat effectiveness will depend heavily on the thrust and agility provided by the Safran-DRDO powerplant.
Beyond its operational implications, the program holds transformative value for India’s defense industry. Mastering indigenous engine design and production has long been a gap in India’s aerospace ecosystem, with earlier attempts such as the Kaveri program falling short of operational use. By securing full technology transfer from Safran, India will establish a sustainable domestic propulsion ecosystem covering design, testing, assembly, and lifecycle maintenance. This milestone will reduce dependency on foreign suppliers, complement India’s Make in India push, and create a foundation for export-oriented growth in high-end aerospace technologies.
The engine initiative unfolds against a complex geopolitical backdrop. India faces simultaneous challenges from an assertive China across the Line of Actual Control and continued hostility with Pakistan, making advanced airpower essential for deterrence. At the same time, New Delhi is carefully recalibrating its defense partnerships, balancing long-standing reliance on Russia with deeper industrial ties to France and selective cooperation with the United States. The Indo-French propulsion deal, following India’s decision to procure 26 Rafale Marine fighters, strengthens bilateral defense ties under the Horizon 2047 roadmap and reinforces India’s strategic autonomy. In an Indo-Pacific increasingly shaped by great-power competition, the ability to domestically produce a fifth-generation jet engine marks a significant step in India’s emergence as a regional aerospace leader.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
According to information published by The Economic Times on August 25, 2025, India and France are preparing to launch an unprecedented collaboration to co-develop and manufacture a next-generation fighter jet engine that will power India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The agreement, valued at $7 billion, brings together India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and French aerospace leader Safran in a program that will deliver a 120-kilonewton-class engine fully designed, tested, and built in India with complete transfer of technology.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
India and France will co-develop a 120 kN jet engine to power the AMCA stealth fighter, marking a breakthrough in indigenous propulsion and a major boost for India’s aerospace industry (Picture source: © Army Recognition based on visuals from Wikimedia).
The project represents a decisive leap in India’s drive for defense self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Safran’s proposal, cleared by the DRDO, was selected as the most technically and economically viable solution and will be executed in cooperation with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). For the first time, India will manufacture a high-thrust fighter engine on its own soil, positioning the country among a select group capable of producing advanced propulsion systems for fifth-generation aircraft.
The engine is designed as a 120 kN afterburning turbofan, the most powerful fighter propulsion system ever planned for production in India. The roadmap foresees the rollout of five prototypes by 2027, a first flight test in 2028, certification by 2032, and series production by 2035. The design emphasizes high thrust-to-weight ratio, compatibility with stealth requirements through reduced infrared and radar signatures, and sustained performance for supercruise. While not adopting adaptive-cycle technology currently under development in the United States, the AMCA engine will integrate cutting-edge European and Indian expertise to meet next-generation demands.
The new engine is intended to equip the AMCA Mk II variant, the production standard of India’s stealth fighter, while the earlier Mk I version will rely on the US-built GE F414 engine. The AMCA program envisions a twin-engine multirole platform capable of air superiority, deep strike, suppression of enemy air defenses, and electronic warfare. With projected speeds of Mach 2, internal weapons bays holding 1.5 tonnes, external payloads up to 5 tonnes, and supercruise capability, the AMCA’s combat effectiveness will depend heavily on the thrust and agility provided by the Safran-DRDO powerplant.
Beyond its operational implications, the program holds transformative value for India’s defense industry. Mastering indigenous engine design and production has long been a gap in India’s aerospace ecosystem, with earlier attempts such as the Kaveri program falling short of operational use. By securing full technology transfer from Safran, India will establish a sustainable domestic propulsion ecosystem covering design, testing, assembly, and lifecycle maintenance. This milestone will reduce dependency on foreign suppliers, complement India’s Make in India push, and create a foundation for export-oriented growth in high-end aerospace technologies.
The engine initiative unfolds against a complex geopolitical backdrop. India faces simultaneous challenges from an assertive China across the Line of Actual Control and continued hostility with Pakistan, making advanced airpower essential for deterrence. At the same time, New Delhi is carefully recalibrating its defense partnerships, balancing long-standing reliance on Russia with deeper industrial ties to France and selective cooperation with the United States. The Indo-French propulsion deal, following India’s decision to procure 26 Rafale Marine fighters, strengthens bilateral defense ties under the Horizon 2047 roadmap and reinforces India’s strategic autonomy. In an Indo-Pacific increasingly shaped by great-power competition, the ability to domestically produce a fifth-generation jet engine marks a significant step in India’s emergence as a regional aerospace leader.
