A significant advancement in India’s domestic defence capabilities and its strategic partnership with France has been made with the formalisation of a historic partnership between the two countries for the co-development and production of an advanced 120-kilonewton (kN) jet engine to power India’s next-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The project, which was announced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in August 2025, combines the French aerospace behemoth Safran and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), both of which are well-known for their engineering skill and long-standing collaboration in the aviation industry.
With an approximate cost of $7 billion, this government-to-government (G2G) agreement will guarantee full technology transfer (ToT) to India, including intellectual property rights, and manufacturing will be carried out domestically in collaboration with India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). With the goal of preparing India to not only design and manufacture fighter engines for AMCA but also open the door for powerplants in upcoming domestic aircraft and export prospects, this degree of knowledge transfer is unique.
The first squadron will use American-made GE-F414 engines, while the second batch of AMCA aircraft will have the 120 kN engine, one of the most potent in its class. The comprehensive strategy calls for the complete indigenisation of the engine’s supply chain and key technologies, with Safran utilising its operational knowledge and local presence to develop and co-produce helicopter engines in India with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
A key component of India’s military industry’s drive for independence (“Atmanirbhar Bharat”) is the AMCA, a twin-engine stealth fighter with both manned and unmanned versions planned. Beyond just producing engines, the project is important because it significantly reduces India’s reliance on imported subsystems, removes the country’s vulnerability to export or sanction regimes, and gives it the strategic freedom to customise the AMCA and future combat platforms to meet particular needs for operational versatility, speed, and stealth.
The partnership also shows growing confidence in France, a nation seen as a reliable defence ally, especially following its non-alignment in times of geopolitical crisis and previous support for delicate agreements. By producing sophisticated helicopter engines and Rafale fighter jet engines together, both countries have previously cleared the path for this kind of collaboration. With DRDO and ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) aiming for a prototype deployment by 2027, test flights around 2028, and full induction into the Indian Air Force by 2036, the AMCA engine project is expected to take roughly ten years to reach full-scale manufacturing.
“We are about to start engine manufacturing work in India with the French company Safran,” declared Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in New Delhi. This is a turning point in India’s aerospace history as the country moves away from reliance on imports and towards domestic production.
A potent 120-kilonewton thrust engine created especially for India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter is being co-developed as part of the collaboration. With an expected cost of ₹61,000 crore ($7.2 billion), this partnership is one of India’s biggest defence agreements and could be the most costly defence purchase in Indian history.
India’s most ambitious aviation project is the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a 25-ton twin-engine stealth fighter that can do deep strike missions in addition to air superiority operations. Important details include:
The maximum speed (Mach 2.15) is around 2,600 km per hour.
Range of Combat: 1,620 km
Payload Capacity: able to carry 6,500 kg of weapons
6.5-ton internal fuel tank capacity
Features of Stealth: Internal weapons compartments and sophisticated materials that absorb radar
Under DRDO, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is designing the aircraft. The first flight tests are anticipated in 2028–2029, and the prototype rollout is scheduled for 2027–2028. It is projected that full induction into the Indian Air Force will occur in 2034–2036.
India chose Safran above rival offerings from Rolls-Royce (UK) and General Electric (US) for a number of strategic reasons. There are several benefits to the French partnership:
Safran has pledged to transfer all of its technology and intellectual property rights (IPR) to India, including vital technologies like improved combustors, single-crystal blades, and thermal barrier coatings. In contrast to assembly operations, this guarantees that India acquires true indigenous manufacturing and design capabilities.
Safran already has a large presence in India, running two plants in Hyderabad and producing parts for the M88 engines of the Rafale fighter plane. About 150 employment would be created by 2026 as a result of the company’s establishment of Safran Aircraft Engine Services India for the upkeep and overhaul of Rafale engines.
Safran’s well-proven M88 engine technology, which powers France’s Rafale fighters, will be included into the new engine. For the AMCA application, Safran suggests improving the M88’s core technology from its present 50 kN dry and 75 kN with afterburner to attain 75-80 kN dry and 110-120 kN with afterburner.
There will be two main phases to the AMCA program:
AMCA MK-1 Variant: Like the TEJAS MK-2 fighter, the first variant will be propelled by General Electric F-414 engines that generate 98kN of thrust. This makes it possible to construct a prototype right away while co-developing the domestic engine.
The upgraded AMCA MK-2 type will include a new 120kN Safran-co-developed engine that will deliver exceptional performance, including super-cruise capability, which allows it to fly at supersonic speeds without the need for afterburners.
Safran will work with DRDO’s top engine development lab, the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), during the project. Having worked on the Kaveri engine program and other gas turbine technologies since 1959, GTRE brings decades of experience to the table.
Given the escalation of regional tensions, this alliance comes at a crucial moment. China has more than 300 J-20 fifth-generation stealth aircraft in service and is working on sixth-generation models. According to reports, Pakistan will purchase up to 40 J-35 stealth fighters from China by 2026, making it imperative for India to preserve its air superiority.
An already strong strategic alliance is strengthened by the France-India partnership. France has proven to be a dependable defence partner for India, particularly by refusing to impose sanctions following India’s nuclear tests in 1998. Several industrial alliances and the acquisition of 26 more Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Navy are examples of recent accords.
With a ₹15,000 crore initial development cost, the AMCA program will greatly expand India’s aerospace industry. Through a public-private partnership approach, the project has significant private sector engagement, with several Indian businesses vying for manufacturing contracts.
This partnership is the cornerstone of India’s technological sovereignty in the aerospace industry and goes beyond a simple agreement on aeroplane engines. A centre of excellence in gas turbine technology with full design and metallurgical capabilities would be established in India as part of the agreement.
In addition to the AMCA, future Indian fighter aircraft, such as possible twin-engine deck-based fighters for aircraft carriers and other cutting-edge platforms, may be powered by this engine technology. The partnership supports Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” campaign while fortifying India’s place in the global aerospace supply chain.
With defence Minister Rajnath Singh establishing a strategic cooperation with France’s Safran for the development of fifth-generation fighter jet engines, India has achieved a significant milestone in its quest for domestic defence capabilities. India will be able to produce cutting-edge jet engines domestically for its flagship Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program thanks to this historic partnership.
If this initiative is carried out successfully, India will join the United States, China, and Russia as one of the few countries that can design and produce fifth-generation fighter aircraft. This collaboration is the result of decades of work for India’s defence establishment to become truly independent in vital military technologies.
