India has teamed up with French aerospace giant Safran to build advanced jet engines domestically. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the collaboration at a Delhi event on August 22, 2025. The partnership aims to power India’s fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The new engine, designed to deliver 110 Kilo Newton thrust, will surpass current global standards. It will drive the second version of the AMCA, while the first version will use a 98 Kilo Newton engine. Safran and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have drafted a roadmap for the project. Engine development, a decade-long process, will take place at an Indian facility.
The Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the AMCA project in 2024, allocating Rs 15,000 crore for design and prototype development. The Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Agency will lead the programme, partnering with public and private sectors.
Safran’s expertise is well-established. The company manufactures M-88 engines for Rafale jets, with 36 in the Indian Air Force and 26 marine variants ordered by the Indian Navy. Safran also collaborates with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce engines for 400 advanced light helicopters. A joint venture is underway for engines to power the 13-tonne Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), set for launch in 2027, and its naval variant, the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH).
Singh highlighted India’s push for self-reliance in defence. “We’re building an ecosystem for world-class capability,” he said. HAL has secured orders worth Rs 66,000 crore for 97 Tejas jets, adding to an earlier Rs 48,000 crore contract for 83 aircraft. Singh also invited global defence firms to invest in India, citing Airbus’s collaboration with Tata Aerospace for C295 aircraft production.
The minister addressed regional dynamics, referencing Pakistan’s Army Chief calling India’s economy a “sports car” and Pakistan’s a “dump truck.” Singh called it a confession of failure, stressing India’s resolve to maintain strong defence capabilities.
Safran is also building a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in Hyderabad for M-88 engines. This partnership with Safran outpaced bids from US-based General Electric and UK’s Rolls-Royce, marking a significant step in India’s defence aviation journey.
