Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries and British engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce have announced a strategic partnership to pursue the development of an indigenous engine for India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) stealth fighter. The two companies intend to collaborate on the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of a sovereign combat engine. Additionally, they plan to explore establishing an Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India, covering operations from design and testing to full-scale production and through-life support.
Rolls-Royce had submitted its final engine proposal for the AMCA program earlier this year, featuring a complete transfer of technology and Indian ownership of the intellectual property. Under the proposed timeline, if a contract is finalized by the end of 2026, engine-core testing would commence in 2030, followed by a maiden flight in 2034 and initial production starting in 2036. The partnership with Reliance Industries provides the proposal with a major Indian industrial partner to drive domestic manufacturing execution.
The joint proposal enters the field while a competing proposal from France's Safran and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), an entity under India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), moves through government channels. The Safran-DRDO proposal for a high-thrust fighter engine is currently being processed by the Indian government and awaits final authorization from the Cabinet Committee on Security.
Safran previously agreed with DRDO to jointly develop a clean-sheet engine in the 120-140kN thrust class rather than an India-specific derivative of its M88 engine. That agreement includes full technology transfer, granting access to critical hot section technology and turbine architecture to ensure sovereign operational autonomy for India's defense aviation infrastructure.
