 "Beyond US: Why India is likely to turn to UK or France to build fighter jet engines")
India is seeking partners beyond the United States to develop engines for its fighter jets. New Delhi is reportedly exploring the possibility of collaborating with the United Kingdom’s defence manufacturing giant Rolls-Royce or France’s Safran to develop combat aircraft engines jointly.
The move comes amid delays in engine supplies by US-based General Electric (GE) for India’s next-generation Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-2 fighter jet. As regional tensions rise, India is looking to bolster its domestic defence manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on imports.
Let’s take a closer look.
UK or France for India’s fighter jet engines?
India is considering between Rolls-Royce and Safran for joint fighter jet engine production. Both companies have offered to work with the Defence Research & Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Bengaluru-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment lab. They have also agreed to share intellectual property rights and Transfer of Technology (ToT), an official told Indian Express.
“Engines are a constraining factor… a strategic decision has to be taken. Both Rolls-Royce and Safran are contenders for the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). A Cabinet note will be prepared from the DRDO side and circulated,” the official said.
Rolls-Royce’s proposal is to develop a series of high-thrust turbofan engines for transport and civilian aircraft. Sanfran has proposed a prototype obtained from its Rafale fighter’s M88 engine family, as per the newspaper’s report.
The locally-produced engines will power India’s AMCA, a twin-engine 5.5-generation stealth fighter which is under development. The combat aircraft, with a thrust class of 110-130 kN, is expected to have its first flight by 2029-2030 and induction by 2035.
The initial AMCA prototypes and the Mk1 variant of the fighter jet will have the GE F414 engines. The engines developed in India are likely to be used for the AMCA Mk2 variant, reported Indian Express.
In May, Bloomberg had reported that India was mulling collaborating with the UK, France and Japan for producing its fighter jet engines.
Why India is looking beyond US for fighter jet engines
The delays in the delivery of the F404-IN20 engine by GE Aerospace to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to power the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fighter jet have led India to diversify partnerships beyond the US. The Boston-based engine manufacturer attributed the delays to restarting the production line, which was hit due to COVID-19.
“The Tejas engine delays were caused by supply chain issues faced by the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer GE Aerospace). There is a need to have greater control of the engine procurement. As was done in the case of marine engines (with Kirloskar), the idea is to develop a local supply base for aircraft engines and we will do everything to develop an ecosystem here,” the official told Indian Express.
India has been in talks with General Electric since 2023 to jointly make GE F414 engines. However, there is no progress yet.
In May, India Air Force (IAF) Chief Amar Preet Singh raised serious concerns about delays in procuring critical weapons. “Not for a single project that I can think of that been completed on time,” he said, underlining the need for India to design, develop, and produce weapons indigenously in greater numbers.
By seeking defence partners beyond the US for jointly making fighter jet engines, New Delhi aims to close capability gaps amid regional tensions, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
India also wants to modernise its air force by purchasing advanced combat aircraft from overseas and strengthening its Make-in-India initiative in defence through joint projects with leading global arms manufacturers.
Its goal to produce jet engines showcases its efforts to secure the supply chain for key defence equipment, which, Bloomberg noted, is a major takeaway from Russia’s prolonged war with Ukraine.
However, seeking partners outside the US is not a snub to Washington or a sign of strained ties, but India’s understanding of securing reliable supply chains.
The move also reflects the changing realities post-Operation Sindoor. The IAF is in want of more fighter jets in large numbers, defence sources said to Moneycontrol in May_._ While the force plans to have 42 fighter squadrons, it currently has 31 squadrons.
The military strikes with Pakistan in May have increased concerns over delays in the supply of crucial technology and reliance on foreign partners. “India is looking for all available options,” a top defence source said at the time.
With inputs from agencies
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