France, through the company Safran, has been selected by India as the main partner for the co-development of a 110–120 kN turbofan engine together with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), intended to power the future fifth-generation stealth fighter Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The choice leaned toward Safran due to its ability to meet the program’s schedule, offering a ten-year development cycle compared to the thirteen projected by Rolls-Royce.
Both companies had offered to share intellectual property rights of the new engine, but Safran’s proposal proved more suitable for the timelines established by the Indian Air Force (IAF), which aims to start AMCA MkII production in 2035 and begin deliveries from 2037. In addition, external factors, such as the possibility of U.S. pressure on Rolls-Royce in the context of past sanctions against British companies, also influenced the decision.
The AMCA, designed to compete with aircraft such as the U.S. F-35 and the Chinese J-20, will require an advanced engine with thrust vectoring, supercruise, and features optimized for low observability. The project has been allocated a budget of 610 billion rupees, reflecting the high costs of technological development. The lack of local experience in producing a fifth-generation engine within the required timeframe led India to seek international cooperation. The Kaveri engine, developed by GTRE, reached 49 kN in its derivative version, below the required 75–80 kN, underscoring the need to partner with a foreign company.
Safran proposed a ten-year development cycle, ensuring that the engine will be ready to enter production by around 2035. The engine will deliver about 75 kN of dry thrust and between 110–120 kN with afterburner, powering the AMCA MkII. In parallel, the AMCA MkI will initially use GE F414 engines (98 kN). Safran’s previous experience with engines such as the M88, which powers the Rafale, and its collaboration with India in programs such as the Dhruv helicopter, reinforced confidence in its proposal.
For its part, Rolls-Royce offered a competitive package, including non-U.S. technologies to avoid potential sanctions. However, its thirteen-year schedule, with operational availability only by 2038, was considered too long for the program’s objectives. Dependence on its supply chain in the face of past sanctions against the United Kingdom also raised doubts in New Delhi.
In May 2025, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had confirmed on social media the approval to move forward with AMCA prototype production, highlighting that: “in a significant effort to enhance India’s indigenous defense capabilities and foster a robust national aerospace industrial ecosystem, Raksha Mantri Shri (…) has approved the Execution Model of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Program.”
He also added: “the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will execute the program through an industry collaboration. This is an important step to leverage indigenous expertise, capability, and capacity to develop the AMCA prototype, which will mark a significant milestone in achieving self-reliance in the aerospace sector.”
The development of the AMCA began in 2023, following the approval of its design by the Cabinet Committee on Security , which set a timeline with the construction of the first prototype within three years and the start of flight tests shortly thereafter. The projected cost amounts to 15 billion rupees and includes the construction of five prototypes. This project seeks to build upon the experience gained with the LCA Tejas fighter, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Images for illustrative purposes.
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