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India, long reliant on foreign jet engines, is set to gain self-reliance through its Safran partnership, boosting indigenous strength and future potential as an engine exporter
AMCA will feature supercruise capability, an internal weapon bay, sensor fusion, and next-generation avionics. (PTI/File)
India has made significant progress towards developing its fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India will manufacture the engine for its 5th Gen fighter jet within the country.
Safran, the creator of the M88 engine for the Rafale jet, will now develop a high-thrust engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. This engine will be crucial for the AMCA, providing it with stealth capabilities, supercruise, and high manoeuvrability.
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Experts believe this technology will place India ahead of fifth-generation fighter jets like America’s F-35 and Russia’s SU-57, strengthening India’s Air Force significantly.
Rajnath Singh made this announcement at the ‘Economic Times World Leaders Forum’. He stated, “India has today taken a big step towards building a fifth-generation fighter aircraft. We are going to start manufacturing fighter jet engines in India in collaboration with the French company Safran.”
India’s Indigenous Stealth Power
This agreement is a significant step towards India’s AMCA project, led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) with substantial participation from private companies.
AMCA is set to be India’s first indigenous stealth-heavy multi-role fighter jet. It will be a 25-tonne twin-engine aircraft with an internal fuel capacity of up to 6.5 tonnes. The aircraft will feature supercruise capability, an internal weapon bay, sensor fusion, and next-generation avionics.
The government has already approved an initial cost of Rs 15,000 crore for AMCA. Experts believe its design and technology can match or surpass fifth-generation fighter aircraft like the American F-35 and Russia’s Su-57.
Why Is This Deal Important?
India has long relied on foreign engines for its fighter jets, such as the Sukhoi-30MKI and Tejas. The partnership with Safran, a leading manufacturer of Rafale engines, will not only make India self-reliant but also position it as a potential exporter of engine technology in the future.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, increasing emphasis on Air Force modernisation and indigenous defence production. The AMCA and engine manufacturing deal is considered part of this initiative.
What Will Be The Features Of India’s 5th Gen Fighter Jet?
- Weight And Capacity: It will be a 25-tonne twin-engine aircraft, with a 6.5-tonne internal fuel capacity.
- Technical Features: The aircraft will boast stealth (radar protection), sensor fusion, internal weapons bay, supercruise (supersonic speed without afterburner), and next-generation avionics.
- Role: Multi-role fighter capable of deep attacks, air defence, and electronic warfare.
- Cost: The initial cost of the project is estimated at Rs 15,000 crore.
Competition With F-35 And Su-57
France’s Safran is regarded as a global leader in engine manufacturing, providing engines for the Rafale and various other military aircraft. Safran’s expertise combined with India’s growing aerospace capabilities could place India among the world’s most advanced air forces in the future.
Experts believe the high-tech design of AMCA, Safran’s engine technology, and the aircraft’s stealth capabilities will surpass those of America’s F-35 and Russia’s Su-57.
Additionally, AMCA’s lower cost and advanced features could make India a ‘game-changer’ in air warfare. This has led to discussions in the defence sector about India’s potential to dominate global airspace with its indigenous fighter jet.
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