British aerospace giant Rolls-Royce is actively targeting significant investment and collaboration in India’s defence and aerospace sectors, backing co-development of a next-generation jet engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The company has proposed a bespoke 110 kN thrust engine design, developed from the ground up to meet the AMCA’s performance needs. Unlike derivative engines, this approach emphasizes a fresh design tailored for India’s strategic and operational context.
A standout element of Rolls-Royce’s pitch is the complete transfer of technology and intellectual property rights (IPR) to India, enabling Indian engineers and organisations such as the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to own, modify, scale and potentially export the engine design. This deep level of technology sharing includes not only manufacturing “know-how” but also the underlying “know-why,” which could catalyse the growth of a genuinely indigenous aerospace ecosystem.
The AMCA, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), is a cornerstone of India’s defence modernisation under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with plans to introduce the fifth-generation stealth fighter by the mid-2030s. Initial AMCA prototypes will use foreign engines, but the co-developed 110 kN engine could power future variants and help reduce long-standing dependence on external suppliers for critical propulsion technology.
Rolls-Royce’s India engagement goes beyond fighter engines. The company has expanded partnerships in Make in India supply chains, like manufacturing advanced engine components locally, and is exploring broader aerospace and naval propulsion opportunities in collaboration with Indian firms. These strategic moves align with India’s push to build sovereign capabilities in defence technology and high-end manufacturing, positioning the country as a future hub for aerospace innovation and production.
