MC EXCLUSIVE India eyes partnership with France's Safran to power next-gen Tejas Mk2 jets

The Indian Air Force, which aims to have an optimal number of 42 fighter squadrons, currently has 31 squadrons.

India is exploring the possibility of a potential partnership with French aerospace and defence major Safran to enhance its engine-making capabilities for Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft and to develop engines for its next-generation Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-2 fighter jets, top defence sources have told Moneycontrol.

US defence major GE Aerospace is currently supplying F404-IN20 engines for Tejas MK-1 fighter jets to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). However, there have been hurdles in the supply, which have delayed timelines for Indian Air Force's plans to augment its fighter squadrons. In a significant move, India is now looking for all available options to speed up its indigenous fighter production rate. As part of this effort, it is exploring partnering with Safran to enhance indigenous fighter jet engine-making capabilities.

Why new approach and Safran: post-Sindoor effect

The change in approach is because the Indian Air Force needs additional fighter jets in large numbers, according to defence sources. This is especially so in the changed security scenario post-Operation Sindoor, which the government has emphasised is not over. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the ‘new normal’ and the Sindoor doctrine that any further terrorist attack on Indian soil will result in a heavy response to Pakistan by India and that India will no longer distinguish between state and non-state enemy combatants.

The Indian Air Force, which aims to have an optimal number of 42 fighter squadrons, currently has 31 squadrons. In February, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh was seen lamenting the delays in the delivery of the Tejas Mk-1 LCA by HAL in a widely watched video that went viral at the Aero India 2025 show in Bengaluru. HAL had, at the time, clarified that delays were due to ‘technical issues’ and were being addressed.

Operation Sindoor has exacerbated concerns over delays in the supply of vital equipment, transfers of technology and the reliability of foreign suppliers. ‘India is looking for all available options,’ said a top defence source.

Tejas Light Combat Aircraft: The story so far

IAF ordered its first batch of Tejas Mk-1 fighters in 2009-10. The initial order was for 40 aircraft (32 fighters and eight trainers) to be delivered by 2016. IAF placed its second order for 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets (73 fighters and 10 trainers) in February 2021 as part of a Rs 48,000 crore deal between the Ministry of Defence and HAL. Deliveries for this batch of jets were to start by mid-2024 but have been delayed. The fighter jets were to be built with GE’s F404-IN20, but delays in the delivery of these engines were one of the major reasons for the delay in the on-time delivery of the jets. The deal, as per initial negotiations, also reportedly included 80 percent transfer of technology to India.

In March, GE announced that it had delivered the first of the 99 F404-IJN20 engines that were to be supplied to HAL for the 2021 Tejas Mk-1A deal, in addition to 65 F 404 engines it had supplied earlier by 2016 for the Tejas Mk-1 version. GE’s higher-thrust F414-GE-INS6 afterburning turbofan has also been selected to power the next-gen LCA Mk-2, which has increased range, and for the prototype development, testing, and certification of fifth-generation fighter jets for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.

If the Safran option works, it will be for engines to power Tejas Mk-2.

With India requiring a large number of fighter jet engines in the future — especially in light of recent military tensions with Pakistan — officials are seeking alternatives to diversify sources and enhance the capabilities of its aircraft fleet.

The LCA Mk2 variant (17.5 tonnes) — a 4.5 generation fighter — is expected to replace the Mirage-2000, Jaguar and MiG-29 fighter jets currently deployed by the Indian Air Force.

Safran and India: Background

The French firm has a joint venture with HAL-SAFHAL Helicopter Engines Pvt Ltd to develop new-generation helicopter engines in India.

By way of background, India has long been working to develop indigenous jet engines under its atmanirbhar (self-reliance) push.

In the past, India focused on the afterburner GTX-35VS Kaveri engine, developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). The Kaveri engine was deemed inadequate to power the LCA, which resulted in India’s turn to GE for LCA engines.

India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft Push

The Safran push is being seen as part of a wider push for defence upgradation after Operation Sindoor. In a significant push towards building a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is set to execute the programme through industry partnership.

“The Execution Model approach provides equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis. They can bid either independently or as joint ventures or as consortia. The entity/bidder should be an Indian company compliant with the laws and regulations of the country,” the ministry of defence said in a statement. “This is an important step towards harnessing the indigenous expertise, capability and capacity to develop the AMCA prototype, which will be a major milestone towards Aatmanirbharta in the aerospace sector.”

China has been producing large numbers of fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft -- J20 and J35 -- some of which have been deployed on the LAC and border with India.