Rolls-Royce is set to make a significant move in India’s defence manufacturing sector, having partnered with two public sector undertakings (PSUs) and awaiting final approval from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to begin production of engines for the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT), according to The Hindu Business Line. This initiative represents one of the largest technology transfer offers ever made by a global engine manufacturer to India.
Enrico Spadaro, Senior Vice President at Rolls-Royce Solutions Asia, announced the development virtually from Singapore, alongside G. S. Selwyn, Executive Vice President of Rolls-Royce India and Managing Director of MTU India. Spadaro confirmed that the company is collaborating with “two different defence PSU partners—one for the Arjun tank engines and the other for the Series 199 family of engines.”
Until now, the Arjun MBT has relied on the imported MB838 Ka-501 engine produced by MTU, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Power Systems. The 1,400 hp, four-stroke engine has been fully imported, with maintenance and overhaul carried out in India.
Rolls-Royce Power Systems is now offering to manufacture the MB838 engine entirely in India, including a complete transfer of technology and intellectual property (IP) rights. If approved by the MoD, this would allow a selected Indian defence PSU to produce all components domestically, remove dependency on global suppliers, and enable fully indigenous assembly of the Arjun MBT engine—a key step under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) initiative.
Series 199 Engines for Future Combat Vehicles
In addition to the Arjun MBT proposal, Rolls-Royce is offering its next-generation Series 199 (S199) engines for several upcoming Indian Army platforms, including:
- Light Tank (Zorawar)
- Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV)
- Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV)
- Heavy Mobility Vehicles (HMV)
The S199 family features multiple cylinder variants ranging from 450 hp to 1,500 hp, capable of powering both tracked and wheeled armoured platforms.
Rolls-Royce has also engaged with private Indian defence companies such as Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Tata, and Mahindra. L&T has already secured initial orders for the Zorawar Light Tank. However, Spadaro emphasized that final engine selections for each programme will follow the MoD’s official procurement process.
If implemented, Rolls-Royce’s proposal to manufacture the MB838 engine in India would position the country as one of the few global hubs capable of producing heavy armoured vehicle engines under full technology transfer. The initiative would strengthen India’s defence industrial base and ensure long-term sustainability for major armoured programs, including the Arjun MBT, future tank families, and upcoming combat platforms.
