'Make in India' gets boost as India plans Rs 61,000 crore fighter jet engine project with France: Report

The Indian Air Force (IAF) HAL Tejas fighter jet prepares to take off during Aero India 2025, a military aviation exhibition at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru on February 13, 2025. (Photo by Idrees MOHAMMED / AFP)

India is preparing to roll out a landmark defence manufacturing project worth Rs 61,000 crore to develop next-generation fighter jet engines in collaboration with France, a major step aimed at advancing the 'Make in India' initiative and reducing the country's deep reliance on imported military technologies.

According to a report by The Economic Times, the Ministry of Defence has recommended a proposal submitted by French engine manufacturer Safran after evaluating competing offers from both Safran and the UK’s Rolls-Royce.

Safran’s plan, which includes a full transfer of technology and a development timeline aligned with India’s futuristic Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, was found to be better suited to the country’s strategic and industrial goals.

The project will centre around the development of a 120-kilonewton (kN) engine, intended to power the AMCA—a key next-generation stealth fighter jet being designed and built indigenously. At present, every Indian fighter aircraft, from the Su-30 MKI to the Tejas, relies on engines sourced from foreign suppliers. These imported engines not only add to the acquisition cost but also inflate the long-term maintenance and operational expenses.

The decision to move forward with France follows a series of intensive technical evaluations and high-level consultations. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is reportedly pushing the initiative forward. He has consistently advocated for indigenous defence manufacturing, particularly in complex domains such as jet engine production.

Developing fighter aircraft engines is widely regarded as one of the most technically challenging areas in aerospace. Only a handful of countries possess the know-how to produce high-thrust, reliable engines. India had previously launched the Kaveri engine project, but it fell short of meeting the power requirements for frontline fighters. That engine is now being adapted for use in unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), a less demanding application.

In parallel, India is also negotiating a separate technology transfer deal with the United States for the GE 414 INS6 engine, which is expected to power the upcoming LCA Mk2 fighter jets. New Delhi is seeking access to more than 80% of the engine’s core technologies, including advanced manufacturing techniques such as hot-end coating, single-crystal blade production, and precision laser drilling.