‘Made in India, by Indians’: Indigenous fighter jet engine production to begin next year, says Rajnath Singh

India is set to begin production of indigenous fighter jet engines next year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, calling it a major step forward in the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) initiative.

In an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Singh said New Delhi is in talks with several global defence manufacturers, including US-based GE and France’s Safran, for local production of jet engines.

Responding to a question on India’s efforts to fast-track engine supplies for the Tejas aircraft following the phase-out of the MiG-21 fleet, Singh said, “There are (talks with) many companies like GE, Safran, etc. We have taken several steps in that direction. I cannot reveal at this point as the final decision will only be taken by the CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security). We have clarity on the concept and direction.”

Expressing optimism about India’s progress, the defence minister said the country is poised to start producing fighter jet engines within a year. “They will be made in India, by Indians,” Singh said.

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Singh added that India will also continue to import jet engines from foreign countries but stressed that there is no pressure from US or any other nation on these purchases.

“We won’t compromise on our interests while purchasing these engines from outside. We have told (companies) that we will purchase engines from you but you should manufacture them in India and transfer technology to us,” he said.

While Singh declined to name any specific company India is currently negotiating with, he asserted that his statements were “not baseless.”

Asked when India could expect the first engine for its fifth-generation fighter jet following talks with French firm Safran, Rajnath Singh said: “We are trying to get the manufacturing done in India as soon as possible. The CCS will take a decision on this soon.”

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He reiterated that while India may collaborate with other countries on the production of fighter jet engines, the manufacturing will happen domestically. “We are trying to get technology transfer as part of the agreement,” he said.

Singh also said the progress on the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project — India’s indigenous fifth-generation, twin-engine, stealth fighter jet currently under development — is encouraging. Rajnath had approved the AMCA Programme Execution Model through industry partnership in May, shortly after Operation Sindoor.

When asked whether the project might take up to 10 years for production, he replied: “There is a possibility it may even happen under that time frame.”