Defence
India To Procure Fighter Jet Engines Worth Rs 65,400 Crore By 2035: Report
A full-scale model of AMCA unveiled at Aero India 2025 (MoD/Twitter)
India expects to invest nearly Rs 65,400 crore in procuring engines for indigenous fighter aircraft currently in various stages of development, news agency Reuters reported.
The expenditure is projected up to 2035 as part of India’s broader drive for self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
According to S V Ramana Murthy, Director of the state-run Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), India will need roughly 1,100 engines to power multiple fighter jet programmes currently in progress.
GTRE, a DRDO laboratory, is leading the indigenous engine development efforts.
India's long-running effort to equip the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft with Its home-grown Kaveri engine remains stalled, primarily due to persistent technical challenges.
Murthy emphasised the urgent need for a “mission-mode” approach to build a robust ecosystem for indigenous fighter engines.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi, he highlighted the importance of infrastructure such as high-altitude testing facilities and a capable industrial base to support the programme.
Murthy added that a derivative version of the Kaveri engine could potentially power India’s indigenous Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), expanding its utility beyond manned fighter platforms.
France’s Safran, the UK’s Rolls-Royce, and the US-based General Electric have expressed interest in the partnership.
A prototype of the AMCA is expected to roll out by 2028.
The AMCA project marks the first instance where private Indian firms have been invited to participate in fighter aircraft production.
The move aims to diversify manufacturing and ease the heavy workload currently handled by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s primary military aircraft producer.
The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision to strengthen India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” mission.
The government has been encouraging foreign and domestic weapon manufacturers to establish joint ventures with Indian partners to accelerate local production.
