PM Modi Announces Cooperation On Engines For AMCA Mk-2, Heavy-lift Helicopters And Submarines With France

India and France will cooperate on the development of high-thrust jet engines for AMCA Mk-2, turboshaft engine for the heavy-lift IMRH helicopters and procurement of three Scorpene submarines.

This was announced in the joint statement by Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.

However, there was no announcement of the much anticipated deal of 26 Rafale-Ms for the Indian Navy, although the Prime Minister did mentioned 'naval aircraft', once in the joint statement.

According to the joint statement, India and France will co-operate on the development of high-thrust (110 KN) low-bypass jet engine for fifth generation stealth fighter Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk-2.

"In the future, India and France will extend their ground-breaking defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine," the statement said.

Safran and DRDO are expected to prepare a roadmap for this jet engine by the end of the year.

"A roadmap on this project will be prepared between Safran and DRDO before the end of this year," the statement added.

According to reports, the French engine-maker Safran has offered full transfer of technology (ToT) for the new high-thrust jet engine. The offer included joint ownership of intellectual property rights (IPR) for the critical technolgy developed under the project.

The French offer is, however, for the development of a clean-sheet engine. The French have not previously developed this high-thrust 110-KN jet engine.

The engine on-offer will be an entirely new design which will be developed in collaboration between DRDO and Safran, and will involve clear division of work.

According to reports, "this offer is going to be a learning process for both sides as issues like design involving the thrust-to-weight ratio, metallurgy and manufacturing process will have to be discussed in detail." 

The deal to manufacture three Scorpene submarines with increased ToT at Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL) was also announced.

The statement said, "India and France hail the success of the first Scorpene submarine construction programme (P75 – Kalvari), a model of Make in India and the sharing of naval expertise between companies in the two countries. India and France are ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance."

Joint development for turboshaft engines for heavy-lift Indian Multi-role helicopter (IMRH) was also found mention in the joint statement.

"They also support industrial cooperation for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) programme with Safran Helicopter Engine, France," the statement said. 

"To enable progress on the IMRH programme, a Shareholders’ Agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India and Safran Helicopter Engine, France has been concluded for engine development," statement further added.

It is worth noting, that Safran and HAL has already signed a workshare agreement for the joint development of the IMRH and DB-MRH helicopters, on the sidelines of Aero India in February 2023.

Furthermore, the statement also announced the ToT of forging and casting for the Shakti engine to HAL which powers almost the entire indigenous helcopter fleet of India, including ALH Druv, Rudra, LCH and LUH helicopters.

HAL and Safran has already agreed to this ToT on the sidelines of Aero India 2023, as well, where Safran has agreed to transfer seven critical forging and casting raw parts for the HAL Shakti engine.

They will also open a joint helicopter-engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, at Goa, whose ground-breaking ceremony was already completed in March 2022, which HAL aims to open by end-2023.