India, France Mull Tie-Up to Develop Next-Gen Jet Engine Under ₹61,000-Cr Pact

The Ministry of Defence has recommended that India should develop a strategic partnership with France in order to develop next-generation fighter jet engines. This collaboration is expected to bring forth advanced capacities in fighter jet manufacturing and design in the country.

After thorough consultation, followed by inputs from a technical committee that assessed the critical aspects of fighter jet engine manufacturing, the ministry noted that French aerospace firm Safran offered the most favourable terms for the partnership; sources told Economic Times on Friday.

Besides the recommendation, the project is expected to be part of a ₹61,000 crore initiative that will co-develop a 120 kilonewton (kN) thrust engine for future combat platforms such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). To understand better: the AMCA is an indigenous 5th-generation stealth fighter aircraft project that is being developed by India, primarily the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the Ministry of Defence. It’s development will position India among the elite group of countries that are developing stealth fighter jets, like the U.S., China, and Russia.

Why India May Chose French firm Safran?

Before choosing Safran as the frontrunner in this deal, the ministry had evaluated proposals both from the French firm as well as UK-based Rolls Royce. However, the former’s offer appeared to be more conducive mainly for two reasons: its alignment with the AMCA timeline and its commitment to full technology transfer. The AMCA timeline essentially refers to the projected development and induction schedule of India’s 5th-generation stealth fighter jet program, which is expected to roll out its first prototype by 2027.

The roadmap is further expected to merge with the developmental goals of the AMCA and thereby the partnership is viewed as a step towards reducing India’s dependence on imported engines.

Currently, all Indian fighter aircraft rely on foreign engines and a majority of a fighter jet’s cost goes into engine maintenance.

India’s Kaveri Dreams

For a long time, India has been pursuing the goal of developing its own fighter jet engine under the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE’s) Kaveri programme. The GTRE is a lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Despite ambitious dreams, the Kaveri project has not worked out as expected, as the engine has failed to achieve the necessary thrust for fighter jet deployment.

However, since then the Kaveri design has been repurposed and a variant is currently being developed for Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs).  Additionally, the Kaveri Marine Gas Turbine (KMGT) is being crafted for smaller naval platforms.