India recommends Safran for Rs 61,000 crore jet engine project: Report

The Rs 61,000 crore project aims to jointly develop a 120kN thrust engine that will power future combat platforms, including the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

The Ministry of Defence has recommended a strategic collaboration with France to co-develop next-generation fighter jet engines, marking a major breakthrough for a high-value project that promises to bring advanced design and manufacturing technologies to India — a critical step towards self-reliance in defence, according to The Economic Times.

Citing official sources, the report said the decision followed a detailed consultative process involving stakeholders and a high-level technical committee that thoroughly examined various aspects of fighter jet engine manufacturing. The French proposal emerged as more beneficial for India, leading to the ministry's recommendation in its favour.

The Rs 61,000 crore project aims to jointly develop a 120kN thrust engine that will power future combat platforms, including the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has played a key role in pushing forward plans to establish an indigenous engine development and manufacturing ecosystem, the report noted.

The ministry had assessed competing offers from France's Safran and the UK’s Rolls Royce, with a detailed evaluation of technical parameters and cost implications. Safran's proposal, which includes full technology transfer, aligns with AMCA’s development timeline and had been under consideration earlier as well.

As per the current plan, the first AMCA squadrons are likely to be powered by US-made GE-414 engines, while efforts will continue in parallel to develop a fully indigenous propulsion system. Fighter jet engines are among the most complex components in aerospace manufacturing, and only a handful of nations possess the necessary expertise.

India is projected to require over 250 next-gen engines in the next decade. Currently, all Indian fighter jets are equipped with foreign-origin engines. A significant portion of a fighter jet’s cost goes towards the engine and its long-term maintenance.

India’s past effort to create a domestic engine under the Kaveri project did not yield the desired results, as the engine failed to produce the required thrust. However, a derivative of the Kaveri is now being modified for use in unmanned combat aerial vehicles.

Additionally, discussions are ongoing with the US for technology transfer related to the GE-414 INS6 engine, intended for the LCA Mk2. India is seeking over 80% technology transfer, including critical technologies like hot-end coatings, single crystal blades, and laser drilling, The Economic Times added.