Safran-DRDO Jet Engine Deal Boosts India’s AMCA Program

India is set to achieve a major milestone in its defense sector as French aerospace giant Safran S.A. partners with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop the country’s first indigenous fighter jet engine. The project, to be executed by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), will produce a 120-kilonewton afterburning turbofan engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and the twin-engine deck-based fighter currently under development.

According to sources, the initiative may soon receive official approval from the Indian government. This follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day call for India to develop its own jet engines to ensure self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Safran has agreed to transfer 100% of its technology, including advanced single-crystal blade know-how, enabling DRDO to produce engines entirely under Indian intellectual property rights.

The project aims to create nine engine prototypes within 12 years, with initial thrust ratings of 120 kilonewtons, increasing to 140 kilonewtons over time. This will allow India to move away from foreign-supplied engines and establish its own advanced propulsion ecosystem.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasized that indigenous jet engine development is a critical priority for India’s next-generation fighter programs. The Safran-DRDO partnership is expected to strengthen India’s aerospace industry by transferring high-end technology, boosting local manufacturing capabilities, and ensuring long-term strategic autonomy in combat aircraft propulsion systems. This collaboration marks a turning point in India’s drive toward defense self-reliance and advanced fighter jet technology.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, hindustantimes.com