India’s DRDO & France's Safran To Co-Develop Jet Engines For Stealthy AMCA Project

India is moving closer to producing its first indigenous high-thrust fighter jet engine through a partnership between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and French aerospace giant Safran, according to multiple reports. The project, which is expected to receive Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval soon, will mark a turning point for the country's defence aviation sector.

The collaboration will be executed by DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bengaluru. Safran has agreed to transfer 100 per cent of the technology, including the critical single-crystal turbine blade process-a capability mastered by only a few nations.

IAF AMCA 5th Gen Fighter. Image Source: PTI

Planned over a span of twelve years, the programme involves the construction of nine prototype engines that will undergo rigorous testing and refinement. The first versions are expected to generate 120 kiloNewtons (kN) of thrust, with later variants scaled up to 140 kN, suitable for advanced combat aircraft requirements.

The new engine is being designed for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India's fifth-generation stealth fighter currently under development. While the first AMCA squadrons may fly with imported engines, later units are expected to transition to the Safran-DRDO powerplant, giving the Indian Air Force (IAF) its first truly indigenous propulsion system.

IAF AMCA 5th Gen Fighter. Image Source: PTI

India is also working with American firm GE to source 212 GE F-404 engines and to localise the more powerful F-414 with about 70 per cent technology transfer. The Safran partnership, however, is distinct in offering complete technology transfer and long-term independence.

The estimated cost of the Safran-DRDO project is about US$7 billion (₹61,000-₹63,000 crore). Once approved, this investment will fund research, prototype development, manufacturing facilities, and certification processes, covering the full life cycle of engine development.

Indian Air Force Rafale. Image Source: PTI

Safran currently supplies the engines for the French Rafale fighter aircraft used by India and has also partnered with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce engines for the IAF's helicopter fleet.

India's earlier attempt at an indigenous engine, the Kaveri project, fell short of operational deployment despite decades of work. By bringing in global expertise from Safran while retaining intellectual property in India, this programme aims to avoid past pitfalls and ensure sustained success.

Safran E88 Engines For Rafale. Image Source: Safran

The Safran-DRDO engine programme could prove to be a generational leap for India's aerospace industry. For the Indian Air Force, it promises a future where cutting-edge fighters fly with engines designed, developed, and manufactured entirely under Indian ownership, strengthening both capability and sovereignty.