New Delhi: India is preparing to launch a major defence collaboration with France to jointly develop a powerful new jet engine for its indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter and other future aircraft platforms. This initiative is expected to significantly strengthen the already deep strategic ties between the two nations.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to approach the Cabinet Committee on Security for approval of the ambitious project with French aerospace giant Safran. The plan includes a 100% transfer of technology to jointly design, develop, test, qualify, certify, and produce 120-kilonewton-class engines entirely in India, senior officials confirmed.
“Safran’s proposal has been evaluated and cleared by DRDO. The company, which already manufactures several types of helicopter engines in India, has been identified as the best fit for the twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA),” said a senior official. The project, led by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), is expected to cost nearly $7 billion.
Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum on Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed the development. “We are making strides in building our fifth-generation fighter aircraft. We’re also moving towards manufacturing the engine for these jets right here in India, in collaboration with the French firm Safran,” he said.
India’s long-standing inability to manufacture high-thrust jet engines with the necessary thrust-to-weight ratio has been a major bottleneck in its indigenous fighter aircraft programmes.
For example, the Tejas Mark-1A fighter programme has been hampered by delays, notably a nearly two-year hold-up in the delivery of 99 GE-F404 engines from US-based General Electric. Integration challenges involving weapons and radar systems have also contributed to the slowdown.
Additionally, the final agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and GE for co-producing the GE-F414 engines—rated at 98 kilonewtons of thrust—for the Tejas Mark-2 is still pending. That $1.5 billion project aims for 80% technology transfer.
In contrast, the new Indo-French engine project with Safran promises full intellectual property (IP) rights and licensing control for India. “It will establish a comprehensive ecosystem for aero-engine manufacturing in India, including a robust domestic supply chain,” said an official.
This move follows the defence ministry’s recent approval of a new programme execution model for prototype development of the 25-tonne AMCA, enabling greater involvement of private industry.
According to current timelines, the AMCA—featuring advanced sensor fusion, stealth capabilities such as internal weapons bays and serpentine air intakes—is expected to enter production by 2035. The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to induct seven squadrons (126 aircraft) of the AMCA, with the first two squadrons powered by GE-F414 engines, and the remaining five using the new 120-kilonewton engines co-developed with France.
