Govt likely to give final nod soon to India’s fighter jet engine project with France

September 11, 2025

New Delhi: The Central government is expected to soon give final approval for a landmark joint project between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and French aerospace giant Safran to co-develop and manufacture an advanced jet engine for India’s next-generation fighter aircraft.

The project will involve 100 per cent transfer of technology and aims to produce 120-kilonewton class engines in India for the indigenous twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) as well as future defence platforms.

CCS Nod Likely Soon

According to senior officials, DRDO is preparing to move the proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final clearance. The programme, to be led by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), carries an estimated cost of around $7 billion.

The development comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the need for indigenous jet engine development in his Independence Day address.

Push for Self-Reliance in Defence

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a fifth-generation fighter aircraft indigenously.

“We have also moved towards manufacturing the aircraft’s engine in India itself. We are about to start engine manufacturing work in India with the French company Safran,” Singh said at a media event in Delhi.

In May, Singh approved the prototype design of the AMCA — a crucial milestone in India’s drive to develop advanced combat aircraft at home.

Strategic and Industrial Significance

PM Modi has strongly backed the indigenous aircraft engine initiative, noting its dual importance for defence preparedness and civilian technology spin-offs. Major private firms, including Tata, Adani Defence and L&T, are expected to contribute to the project.

With this programme, India will join an elite group of countries — the US, Russia, the UK and France — capable of designing, developing, and manufacturing advanced aircraft engines. China, by contrast, still relies on Russian engines or reverse-engineered versions for its frontline fighters.

Naval Aviation Boost

The Indian Navy is also set to benefit, as the Safran-GTRE engine will power the planned twin-engine deck-based fighters for aircraft carrier operations, reinforcing India’s long-term blue-water strategy.