New Delhi: India could gain access to the complete technology needed to develop a next-generation fighter jet engine under the British proposal for the country’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, with the offer envisaging full transfer of technology and Indian ownership of intellectual property rights.
The proposal from British aerospace major Rolls-Royce is aimed at jointly developing a sovereign combat engine in India for the indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
Significantly, the core technology being offered by the UK is expected to be free from restrictions under the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The UK has previously publicly offered India advanced core technologies aimed at creating an indigenous, ITAR-free jet engine that could be owned and manufactured in India.
India Seeks Deep Transfer Of Jet Engine Technology
A crucial part of the proposal is India’s push for a “deep” transfer of technology rather than simply manufacturing a foreign-designed engine domestically.
This would include access to critical technologies such as single-crystal turbine blades, which are designed to withstand extremely high temperatures inside modern fighter engines and are critical to achieving higher performance and thrust.
The proposed engine is expected to generate more than 120 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust, with the potential for the design to eventually be scaled towards the 145 kN class.
The broader objective is to give India an end-to-end domestic capability covering the design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and lifecycle support of advanced military aero engines.
Rolls-Royce And Reliance Join Hands For AMCA Engine
The latest development comes after Rolls-Royce and Reliance Industries announced on August 14 their strategic intent to jointly offer capabilities for developing an indigenous combat engine for the AMCA programme.
Under their proposed partnership, the companies are exploring the creation of an Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India, which would serve as a centre for advanced propulsion technologies.
Rolls-Royce’s official announcement says the partnership is intended to establish sovereign Indian capability across engine design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and through-life support.
The British side is reportedly targeting the rollout of the new engine around 2034.
Why An ITAR-Free Engine Matters For India
The absence of US ITAR restrictions could be particularly important for India’s long-term strategic autonomy.
ITAR controls can impose limitations on the transfer, modification and export of defence technologies containing controlled US-origin components. An engine developed around technology outside those restrictions could potentially give India greater control over future production, upgrades and deployment.
The UK had stated as far back as 2022 that the two countries were working towards giving Indian industry the “highest level access” to technology in areas including modern fighter aircraft and advanced jet-engine core technology.
Rolls-Royce Faces Competition From France’s Safran
The British proposal is not India’s only option. French aerospace company Safran is also in contention for cooperation on a next-generation 120 kN-class engine, working with India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) under the DRDO framework.
The final choice will have major implications beyond the AMCA itself. Developing the ability to independently design and manufacture high-thrust fighter engines has remained one of the biggest technological gaps in India’s otherwise rapidly expanding indigenous defence aerospace ecosystem.
India and the UK have meanwhile formally identified jet-engine technology as a key area of defence cooperation under the India-UK Vision 2035 and their 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap. The framework specifically lists Jet Engine Advanced Core Technologies (JEACT) among areas targeted for co-development and advanced technological cooperation.
