India is likely to clear a major defence collaboration between French aerospace giant Safran SA and the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) for the joint design and production of a powerful 120-kilonewton jet engine to power the country's twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a Hindustan Times report said on Thursday.
The decision comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, underscored the importance of building indigenous jet engines. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also signalled that the country is preparing to take up the high-stakes challenge of developing combat aircraft engines, according to HT.
As per the report, the Safran-GTRE partnership aims to deliver nine engine prototypes over a 12-year period. The initial versions will generate 120 kN thrust, with the capability later being scaled up to 140 kN during the development cycle.
Importantly, the project will be executed under Indian intellectual property rights, with Safran transferring full technology to DRDO - including advanced single-crystal blade technology. These blades, crafted from super-alloys, allow engines to withstand extreme heat and stress while maintaining durability and efficiency.
While DRDO has foundational expertise in the area, applying it to high-thrust fighter engines remains a formidable challenge, HT noted. The concept of a Safran-DRDO collaboration had been under discussion for nearly two years, but the government has now pushed DRDO to formalise a proposal expected to receive final approval soon.
The engine will eventually power the AMCA - a twin-engine multi-role fighter being developed with significant participation from India's private sector, with Tata Group, Larsen & Toubro, and Adani Defence expected to play key roles.
According to HT, Prime Minister Modi views indigenous jet engine capability as not only vital for national defence but also a driver of civilian technological spin-offs.
At present, only the US, Russia, the UK and France possess the ability to design and produce aircraft engines. China continues to rely on Russian supplies or reverse-engineered systems, while India's earlier attempt with the Kaveri engine did not achieve operational success.
India has also signed agreements with US defence major General Electric for 212 F-404 engines, with a second tranche of 113 to be inked this month. In addition, the US is transferring technology for the higher-thrust GE-414 engines, though the technology transfer is capped at about 70%.
In contrast, the Safran collaboration is expected to ensure complete transfer of know-how. Officials told HT that India values France as a dependable partner - one that did not impose sanctions after the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests, and continued to supply cutting-edge navigation systems for Indian missiles along with spares for Mirage-2000 fighters.
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