Overview

• The Defence Ministry has backed a ₹61,000 crore programme to co-develop a 120kN fighter jet engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft with France’s Safran.
• Safran was chosen over Rolls-Royce after offering full technology transfer and a development timeline synced to the AMCA’s prototype rollout.
• India will procure GE F414-INS6 turbofans for the initial AMCA prototypes since the indigenous engine is not expected to mature for over a decade.
• Negotiations with the United States aim to secure majority technology transfer on the GE F414-INS6 engines already selected for the Tejas Mk II.
• This dual-track strategy speeds up AMCA testing while advancing India’s broader goal of designing and manufacturing high-thrust aerospace engines domestically.