India to develop fighter jet engines in collaboration with French company

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India has initiated cooperation with a French company to develop and manufacture engines for combat aircraft domestically.

According to the minister, this initiative aims to strengthen the nation’s defence industry and reduce reliance on imported systems, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Singh said the project will focus on producing a new generation of engines for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation fighter jet.

 The AMCA prototype was approved in May and has been described by the minister as “an important step in strengthening India's defence capabilities".

While Singh did not disclose the specific French partner, Indian media sources indicate that it is Safran, a company that has long been active in India’s aviation and defence sectors.

India, historically one of the world’s largest arms importers, has in recent years emphasised localising defence production and developing indigenous capabilities.

The country is actively engaging with Western partners, including members of the Quad alliance—the United States, Japan, and Australia —to advance its defence technology.

In addition, Singh stated that contracts worth at least $100 billion are expected to be signed for the supply of domestically produced weapons by 2033.

Recent achievements in India’s defence sector include the commissioning of a new helicopter manufacturing facility, the construction of the first domestically built aircraft carrier, the production of new ships and submarines, and the successful testing of a long-range hypersonic missile.

By Tamilla Hasanova