India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced a landmark collaboration with French aerospace giant Safran to co-develop and manufacture a next-generation jet engine for the country’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The partnership, revealed at the ET World Leaders Forum, represents a pivotal move toward India’s long-term goal of achieving self-sufficiency in critical defence technologies.
“We have also moved towards manufacturing the aircraft’s engine in India itself. We are about to start engine manufacturing work in India with the French company Safran,” Singh stated, underscoring the government’s strategic shift toward domestic production of advanced military hardware.
This collaboration is poised to reduce India’s reliance on foreign suppliers for cutting-edge aero-engine technology, a domain mastered by only a handful of nations. Safran, a global leader in aerospace propulsion, is already a trusted partner of India, having supplied the M88 engines for the Rafale fighter jets currently in service with the Indian Air Force.
The agreement is expected to involve a full transfer of technology, enabling India to design, develop, and manufacture the engine domestically. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is likely to spearhead this initiative, building on the strong strategic ties between India and France.
The new engine, designed to power the AMCA—a fifth-generation stealth fighter—will be a 110-kilonewton (kN) thrust-class powerplant. It will feature advanced capabilities such as supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburners), enhanced stealth, and superior agility. While initial AMCA prototypes may rely on existing foreign engines, this partnership with Safran is critical for the development of the more advanced Mk2 variant, ensuring that future iterations of the aircraft are supported by indigenous technology.
The collaboration not only strengthens India’s defence industrial base but also reinforces the growing strategic partnership between India and France. As both nations continue to deepen their defence cooperation, this joint venture could set a precedent for future collaborations in advanced military technologies.