India has been striving for decades to achieve self-reliance in jet engine technology, a critical component for its defense and aerospace sectors.

Recently, a significant step was taken when a team from the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) met with UK-based Rolls-Royce to discuss the development of a high-thrust, low-bypass engine (110 kN+) for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

russian engine option amca

The talks secured Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for India, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s aerospace journey. Meanwhile, Russia has also expressed interest in supplying advanced turbofan engines for India’s ambitious 5th-generation amca india program.

This development comes after a 30-year wait for the successful completion of the Kaveri engine project, underscoring the importance of this collaboration in strengthening India’s defense self-reliance.

Godrej Aerospace’s Role in AMCA’s 5th-Gen Engine Development

Now, Godrej Aerospace, a key player in India’s defense manufacturing sector, has expressed strong interest in collaborating with DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) for the development of the amca aircraft 5th-generation fighter jet engine.

With prior experience in manufacturing critical modules for the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE), Godrej Aerospace sees this as a natural progression in India’s journey toward indigenous jet engine development.

Speaking to industry stakeholders in February 2025, Vice President and Business Head at Godrej Aerospace, emphasized the company’s readiness. “Manufacturing processes will remain the same. The alloys, welding, heat treatment, and surface treatment techniques are already mastered,” he noted, highlighting how existing capabilities can be leveraged for this next-generation project.

From Kaveri to AMCA: A Leap Forward

Godrej Aerospace has played a crucial role in the KDE, an offshoot of the long-running Kaveri engine project. The KDE, developed by GTRE under DRDO, powers India’s Ghatak stealth UCAV and marine applications, delivering 46-52 kN of thrust.

The AMCA MkII, however, requires a more powerful engine capable of 110-130 kN thrust. Godrej believes its manufacturing precision and experience align well with the project. Unlike the earlier Kaveri engine, which was abandoned for fighter jets in 2014 due to technical limitations, the new indigenous engine must support supercruise (sustained Mach 1+ speeds without afterburners), low infrared signatures for stealth, and durability exceeding 4,000 operational hours.

India’s Push for an Indigenous Jet Engine

The amca fighter jet is India’s next-generation stealth fighter, with its MkI variant set to debut in 2028 using the GE F414 (98 kN) engine. However, the MkII—expected by the mid-2030s—demands a more powerful indigenous engine.

The Indian government has sanctioned ?15,000 crore for this development, with ongoing discussions with global engine manufacturers like Safran (France) and Rolls-Royce (UK) for potential co-development.

A Game-Changer for India’s Aerospace Ecosystem

If India successfully develops this 5th-generation engine, it will be a monumental achievement, reducing reliance on foreign technology and boosting the domestic aerospace ecosystem. Behramkamdin envisions this as a turning point:

“If such technologies are developed domestically, it will significantly advance India’s aerospace capabilities.”