India is on the cusp of a historic breakthrough in defence technology as French aerospace major Safran S.A and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), prepare to jointly develop the country’s first indigenous fighter jet engine. The ambitious project, which has been under discussion for two years, is now being accelerated with strong backing from the Indian government. The new engine, to be developed entirely in India with full intellectual property rights, will mark a significant milestone in India’s efforts to achieve strategic self-reliance in high-end military technology and end decades of dependence on foreign suppliers for critical fighter aircraft power plants.
India and France move closer to landmark joint development
According to people familiar with the matter, the proposed engine will generate 120 kilo newtons (KN) of thrust, with the potential to scale up to 140 KN over time. It is intended to power the twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s most ambitious indigenous fighter program, which is being developed by the DRDO in collaboration with Indian private sector giants such as Tata Group, Larsen & Toubro and Adani Defence. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also confirmed that India is now embarking on the critical mission of developing its own fighter jet engines, an area in which only a handful of countries in the world have demonstrated success.
Safran and GTRE are expected to produce nine prototype engines over a twelve-year period as part of the development program. While the initial prototypes will have a thrust capacity of 120 KN, the eventual production-ready variants will be capable of delivering up to 140 KN, ensuring they meet the demanding requirements of modern multi-role combat aircraft. This effort comes just weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address in which he underscored the importance of developing indigenous jet engines, describing the capability as an apex defence technology with far-reaching civilian spin-offs.
What makes this collaboration particularly significant is Safran’s agreement to transfer 100 percent of its technology to DRDO, including the highly advanced crystal blade technology used in fighter jet engines. Crystal blades, made from single-crystal superalloys, are a critical component that can withstand extreme temperatures and stresses inside the engine while delivering high efficiency and longevity. DRDO has developed expertise in this area, but adapting it to high-performance fighter aircraft engines has remained a challenge. Safran’s willingness to share its proprietary knowledge is expected to bridge this gap and accelerate India’s progress.
The decision to move forward with the Safran-GTRE collaboration is the result of a strong push from the Modi government, which has been urging DRDO to submit a formal proposal that is now on the verge of final approval at the highest level. The agreement ensures that India retains full ownership of the intellectual property generated through the program, a sharp departure from earlier collaborations where foreign partners withheld critical design and technology elements.
The urgency of this initiative is underscored by India’s past difficulties in developing indigenous engines. The Gas Turbine Research Establishment had attempted to develop the Kaveri engine in the 1990s, but the program failed to produce a viable power plant for frontline fighters. The Safran partnership is therefore viewed as an opportunity to redeem that legacy and finally equip India with the ability to design and produce engines at par with the best in the world.
Strategic significance and global context of the collaboration
The implications of the Safran-DRDO collaboration extend far beyond the AMCA program. India’s ability to co-develop and eventually mass-produce advanced jet engines represents a transformative leap in its defence capabilities, aligning with its broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat” agenda. At present, only four countries—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and France—possess the demonstrated capability to design and produce advanced fighter jet engines. Even China, despite its massive investments in defence technology, continues to rely heavily on Russian engines or reverse-engineered variants for its frontline fighters. By joining this exclusive club, India would secure a long-term strategic advantage and reduce its vulnerability to external pressures and supply chain disruptions.
India’s reliance on foreign suppliers for fighter engines has long been a source of strategic vulnerability. For example, US defence major General Electric is currently supplying India with 212 F-404 engines for its Tejas fighter aircraft, with a second tranche of 113 engines expected to be signed soon. General Electric has also agreed to transfer technology for its heavier F-414 engines to power later variants of the Tejas and other platforms, but the transfer is limited to about 70 percent of the technology. The most sensitive elements remain outside India’s control, restricting its ability to independently manufacture or upgrade the engines in the future.
By contrast, the Safran partnership promises complete technology transfer, giving India full control over the design, production and lifecycle management of its engines. This independence is crucial for India’s strategic autonomy, particularly at a time when geopolitical alignments are increasingly volatile. Analysts point out that US defence deals often come with political conditions and are prone to disruptions during times of diplomatic tension. France, on the other hand, has proven to be a more reliable partner for India. Unlike the US and several other Western nations, France did not impose sanctions on India following its Pokhran nuclear tests in 1998. Instead, it continued to supply India with critical INGPS navigation systems for its missiles and spares for Mirage-2000 fighters.
The choice of France as a partner is also strategically logical, given that India already operates 36 Rafale fighters powered by Safran’s M-88 engines. With discussions underway for India to procure an additional 114 fighters under its multi-role combat aircraft program, Dassault and Safran are seen as natural partners for India’s long-term requirements. The design, development and co-production of a 120-140 KN engine would ensure that India is no longer dependent on any third country for the most critical component of its air power.
For the Indian Air Force, the availability of a reliable indigenous engine will secure the long-term viability of its future fleet. The AMCA program, designed to produce a fifth-generation stealth fighter with twin engines and advanced avionics, is expected to form the backbone of the IAF’s combat capability in the coming decades. A domestically developed engine will not only guarantee supply security but also significantly reduce costs over the life cycle of the aircraft. For the Indian Navy, the Safran-GTRE engine will power the twin-engine deck-based fighter that will operate from aircraft carriers, providing a vital boost to India’s maritime strike capability.
Experts note that the development of advanced jet engines also has major civilian implications. Technologies perfected for military applications, such as crystal blades and advanced turbine materials, often find their way into commercial aviation and power generation. By building indigenous capacity in this area, India could eventually emerge as a global hub for high-performance turbine technology, creating opportunities for the country’s aerospace sector and broader economy.
The collaboration between Safran and DRDO is thus not just a defence project but a national strategic enterprise. It represents a chance for India to overcome decades of technological dependence, transform its aerospace ecosystem, and secure its position as a self-reliant global power in one of the most complex and high-stakes domains of modern warfare.
