Safran.
India Poised for Landmark Fighter Engine Deal with France Following MoD Recommendation, Boosting Indigenous Defence Capabilities: NEW DELHI – July 19, 2025 – India is set to embark on a transformative defence collaboration with France, following a recommendation by the Ministry of Defence to co-develop next-generation fighter jet engines, according to local media reports. This monumental initiative, valued at approximately Rs 61,000 crore – equivalent to around £6.5 billion (approximately $7.35 billion USD) – aims to develop a powerful 120 kilonewton (kN) thrust engine, a critical component for India’s future combat aircraft platforms.
French aerospace firm Safran has emerged as the preferred partner, offering a comprehensive package that includes full technology transfer. While the Ministry of Defence has recommended this strategic partnership, an official announcement regarding the finalisation of the deal is still awaited.
The proposed strategic partnership is poised to bring advanced manufacturing and design capabilities directly to India, a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in a crucial defence sector. The recommendation comes after an extensive consultation process, which included detailed input from a technical committee that meticulously assessed all critical aspects of fighter jet engine manufacturing. The ministry concluded that Safran’s terms were the most beneficial for India’s long-term defence aspirations.
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Safran M-88 Fighter Jet Engine.
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The joint project focuses on developing a high-thrust engine specifically intended for future combat platforms, such as the ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. This move is seen as vital for equipping India’s next generation of aerial combat assets with cutting-edge propulsion systems.
Safran‘s proposal successfully outmanoeuvred a competing offer from the UK-based Rolls-Royce. The French company’s bid stood out for two primary reasons: its strong alignment with the AMCA development timeline and, critically, its unwavering commitment to full technology transfer. This commitment is a game-changer for India, as it aims to reduce its historical dependence on imported propulsion systems, a significant cost factor in fighter jet acquisition and maintenance. Currently, all Indian fighter aircraft rely on engines of foreign origin, making this indigenous development a strategic imperative.
Safran Leap Engine.
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India has long pursued the goal of developing its own fighter jet engine through the Kaveri programme, managed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). While the Kaveri project did not achieve the necessary thrust for fighter jet deployment, its design has since been ingeniously repurposed. A variant is now being developed for Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), and the Kaveri Marine Gas Turbine (KMGT) is being tailored for smaller naval platforms, demonstrating India’s adaptive approach to defence research.
In related developments, India recently received the second GE-F404 engine from the United States on July 15, intended for its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), overseeing the aircraft’s assembly, anticipates receiving 12 more F404 engines this fiscal year to support the production of 83 LCA Mk-1A jets. This order, reportedly valued at ₹48,000 crore, was placed by the Indian Air Force in 2021.
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Furthermore, HAL is in advanced discussions with GE Aerospace for the local co-production of the more powerful F414 engine, destined for the LCA Mk-2. This proposed deal, estimated at around $1 billion, includes a substantial commitment of up to 80 per cent technology transfer – an arrangement considered absolutely vital for fostering a robust indigenous engine ecosystem in India.
This multi-faceted approach, combining strategic international partnerships with ongoing indigenous development and co-production efforts, underscores India’s determined push to become a global leader in defence manufacturing and a truly self-reliant aerospace power.
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