In a major boost to India’s ambitions for defence self-reliance, French aerospace giant Safran has formally proposed to co-develop a next-generation fighter jet engine for the country’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program — with a full 100% transfer of technology (ToT).
If cleared, the deal would mark the first time India gains unrestricted access to such advanced jet engine technology, long considered among the most closely guarded secrets in global defence manufacturing. Officials familiar with the discussions say the co-development partnership, alongside India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), could be worth around $7 billion, making it one of the largest-ever Indo-French defence collaborations.
Safran’s proposal is unprecedented in scope. It promises the creation of an entirely domestic supply chain in India — from turbine blades to high-end digital engine control systems — enabling the country to manufacture every component of the engine without relying on imports.
According to sources, the French blueprint is designed around a fully localized industrial ecosystem. Complex parts such as single-crystal turbine blades, high-pressure compressor modules, and FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) units — normally sourced from specialized foreign vendors — would be produced within India.
This approach would bring state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), DRDO labs, and leading private-sector players such as Tata Advanced Systems and Godrej Aerospace into a collaborative framework.
Analysts say the plan marks a decisive shift away from past Indo-French projects like the Rafale’s M88 engine, which continued to depend on imported components. In contrast, the AMCA engine proposal directly aligns with DRDO’s objective of establishing sovereign and sustainable aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
India’s AMCA stealth fighter, being developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), requires a powerful next-generation engine to meet the aircraft’s demanding operational profile. As a twin-engine fifth-generation aircraft, the AMCA must offer features such as:
Supercruise capability (flying supersonic without afterburners)
A combat radius of 1,500 km
Low-observable thermal and radar signatures
High agility supported by thrust vectoring
The current interim engine — the US-made GE F414, approved for the Tejas Mk2 and AMCA Mk1 prototypes — falls short of the 120–140 kN thrust required for the AMCA Mk2 variant. Safran’s proposed engine aims to fill this gap, reportedly incorporating:
3D thrust-vectoring nozzles for superior maneuverability
Advanced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) for higher temperature tolerance
Improved fuel efficiency and stealth-friendly thermal management
Defence experts say that acquiring such an engine is crucial for India to achieve true fifth-generation performance.
India’s long-term demand for fighter engines is extensive. The AMCA Mk2 alone is expected to require 400–600 engines in the initial phase, as indicated by defence officials. But including additional national programs — especially the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) for the Indian Navy — the total requirement is projected to exceed 1,100 advanced jet engines by 2035.
Such volume would justify the establishment of major domestic manufacturing lines, amortize development costs, and enable large-scale export potential.
The DRDO is expected to soon approach the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for initial approval of the engine co-development program. If signed, the project would represent one of the most strategic technology partnerships India has ever entered.
For decades, India has struggled to master gas turbine technology, with the indigenous Kaveri engine project unable to achieve the thrust levels required for modern fighters. A fully foreign-backed, jointly developed engine with full technology transfer would finally bridge this capability gap.
Such progress could significantly expand India’s aerospace manufacturing base, generating thousands of skilled jobs and lowering long-term maintenance and lifecycle costs across the Air Force and Navy.
Negotiations between Safran and GTRE, according to sources, are currently centered on creating a feasible roadmap for complete localization. This includes establishing testing infrastructure, identifying domestic industrial partners, and validating Safran’s 100% ToT plan.
If the CCS clears the proposal within the next year, preliminary development and integration trials could begin as early as 2027.
While the French offer is among the strongest on the table, India is also evaluating alternatives — including a Rolls-Royce-led initiative from the United Kingdom. However, Safran’s willingness to provide full technology transfer, including core engine technologies typically held under strict national guard, has positioned the French bid as a potential “game-changer.”
