Industry urges gov to launch ‘Mission Aero Engine’ amid talks with France’s Safran & US’s GE

As India moves towards finalising a deal with French aerospace major Safran for the indigenous co-development of advanced fighter jet engines, the domestic defence industry has urged the government to simultaneously launch a “Mission Aero Engine” — a national initiative to develop indigenous 110 kN thrust engines for both military and civilian applications.

The recommendation, made by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in a recent report titled “A Road Map for Aero Engine Development in India,” cautions that overdependence on foreign partners could expose India’s aviation sector to future sanctions or delays arising from geopolitical factors. The report was released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.

“India is highly vulnerable, and any restriction or sanction — whether by the USA, UK, France or Russia — can severely affect our Armed Forces as well as the high-growth civil aviation sector,” the report warns.

The SIDM has proposed that the government launch Mission Aero Engine as a flagship national programme under Aatmanirbhar Bharat to achieve genuine self-reliance in critical aerospace propulsion technologies.

The mission, it suggests, should aim to design, develop and manufacture a 110 kN thrust-class core engine through the private sector, supported by government grants and incentives, while leveraging the technical expertise and infrastructure available at the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE).

According to SIDM’s assessment, India will require at least 712 engines in the coming years for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) series — including Mk-1, Mk-1A and Mk-2 variants — as well as the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The combined market value of these engines is estimated at over ₹60,000 crore.

Currently, the LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighters are powered by GE F404 engines. GE and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are also in the process to finalise a deal to co-produce the F414 jet engine in India, with about 80 per cent ToT for powering the Tejas Mk-II fighter jet and other Indian combat aircraft. Each engine is likely to cost about $ 10 million.

Leveraging Kaveri Experience

India’s indigenous Kaveri engine programme, originally conceived for the LCA, was shelved after delays and performance shortfalls. However, its derivative Dry Kaveri is being developed for unmanned aerial platforms, and DRDO is reportedly working on reviving the full-fledged version with an afterburner to reach 80 kN thrust.

Civilian Applications and Economic Rationale

The report highlights that the same 110 kN core engine — modified with thrust reversal, additional fan and turbine stages, and without an afterburner — could also power single-aisle commercial aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 series.

This dual-use potential, it notes, would significantly enhance the commercial viability of the indigenous engine programme and help build a sustainable aero-engine ecosystem in India.

Caution Against Dependence on Foreign OEMs

The SIDM report cautions that no foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM) — including Safran, GE or Rolls-Royce — will ever share 100 per cent of the design, development and test data with Indian partners during co-development.

“These countries have invested heavily in developing such technologies and will not create future competitors that threaten their business interests,” the report states.

To ensure strategic autonomy, SIDM recommends that India retain the right to independently develop, modify, upgrade and export any co-developed engine.

Failure to secure such provisions, it warns, could trap India in long-term dependence for the next 30 to 40 years — the typical life cycle of an aero engine.

Existing Capabilities and Gaps

While Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has long manufactured engines under licence for aircraft such as the Sukhoi series, it has yet to produce an indigenous powerplant. The GTRE’s Kaveri project, sanctioned in 1989 with a seven-year timeline, remains incomplete even after more than three decades.

However, SIDM notes that India already possesses about 80 per cent of the required infrastructure, machinery and technical knowledge base for developing an indigenous aero engine.

Key focus areas identified for ecosystem development include: Design of compressor and turbine vanes, blades and blisks; Combustion chamber development; Special manufacturing processes (forging, casting, heat treatment); High-temperature materials such as single-crystal turbine blades; Advanced composites (carbon and ceramic matrix materials); and Sensors, polymers and airborne testing platforms.

The report recommends the sanctioning of a dedicated project for airborne testing infrastructure to validate performance in real flight conditions.

The global aero-engine industry is dominated by General Electric (GE) Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, Safran Aircraft Engines, Honeywell Aerospace and MTU Aero Engines.

With global demand for next-generation engines expected to rise sharply, the SIDM report asserts that India’s entry into this strategic sector is both a technological necessity and an economic opportunity.

Published on October 30, 2025