The record
Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- India is moving towards its first truly indigenous fighter jet engine through a proposed Safran–GTRE joint venture between France's Safran and DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment, with the Cabinet Committee on Security expected to clear the plan before August 15, 2026.
- The engine is planned at 120 kN thrust initially, with nine prototypes to be built and certified, followed by a 140 kN version for fifth- and sixth-generation fighters — and India would hold 100% of the intellectual property, unlike past engine deals that withheld critical technology.
- The push follows PM Modi's 2025 Independence Day call for a homegrown fighter with an Indian engine, and comes as private firms Tata, Bharat Forge and L&T have been shortlisted to build the AMCA airframe.
- The report frames the effort against China's progress with its WS-15 engine powering J-20 jets deployed near Indian borders, calling the programme a defining moment despite a long road of testing and an estimated 10–15 billion dollar development cost.
What to watch next
- Cabinet Committee on Security clearance of the Safran–GTRE engine joint venture, expected before August 15, 2026
- Progress on AMCA bids with Tata, Bharat Forge and L&T shortlisted, and whether CCS timelines hold
- Delivery delays of GE F404 engines for Tejas Mk1A and the actual extent of technology transfer in the GE–HAL F414 arrangement
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Named India · France · China · United States · Russia · Aayesha Varma · Bharat Forge · Cabinet Committee on Security · Defence Research and Development Organisation · Gas Turbine Research Establishment · Hindustan Aeronautics Limited · Indian Air Force · Larsen & Toubro · Narendra Modi · People's Liberation Army · Safran
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