Rolls-Royce and Reliance Industries have announced plans to work together on the design, development and manufacture of an indigenous combat engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme, according to the company.
The British engineering group and Indian conglomerate announced their strategic intent on 14 August, setting out a proposed partnership that would cover the development, production and delivery of an engine for the future AMCA fighter.
Under the plans outlined in a Rolls-Royce news update, the two companies will also explore establishing a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India focused on power and propulsion technology. The proposed facility would be intended to support an end-to-end Indian capability covering engine design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and through-life support.
The announcement concerns strategic intent rather than the award of an AMCA engine contract. Rolls-Royce and Reliance said they would jointly offer their capabilities for the programme and examine how an Indian industrial and engineering base could be established around the proposed engine.
India’s AMCA programme is intended to deliver a new-generation combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force, with the propulsion system representing one of the programme’s major technology requirements. The latest proposal centres on developing that capability within India rather than supplying a completed foreign engine.
Anant Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited, said, as quoted in a news update: “India’s strategic autonomy requires sovereign capability in critical technologies. Our intent with Rolls-Royce is to combine their world-leading expertise in advanced propulsion with Reliance’s technology, manufacturing, scale and execution capabilities to build an indigenous aero-engine ecosystem in India.”
He added: “Together, we aim to build an enduring national capability that can make India self-reliant and, over time, globally competitive in advanced propulsion technologies. This is our contribution to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat.”
Tufan Erginbilgiç, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce plc, said, as quoted in the same news update: “I welcome the opportunity to join forces with Reliance Industries, bringing together our century-long heritage in advanced engineering and proven engine expertise with their homegrown leadership in Indian industry.”
He continued: “Together, with our existing partnerships and capabilities in India, this marks a major milestone towards building a robust, self-reliant aerospace ecosystem in the country.”
The proposed Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex would form a central element of the collaboration. According to the companies, it would be designed to create Indian capability across the full lifecycle of advanced aero engines rather than concentrating solely on final assembly or component production.
Image via FlyingDaggers45SQUADRON, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Could be good news.
It could be good news but it all comes down to being able to make a deal in the Indian way and unfortunately for RR that means butting heads with SAFRAN who are rapidly cleaning up due to sales of the Rafale to the IAF and IN.
Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 but as those M88 engines will be built in India and France is already developing an advanced version for the 6th Gen FCAS I’d not bet on any of this happening.
India ruling out Russia and never china, America is unreliable and pro Pakistan, so leaves British & French?
Not so sure about US being pro Pakistan these days, it will be interesting to see how the New Tri Partite Mutual Defence Pact between Turkey, Saudi and Pakistan pans out.
But I do suspect that like the whole International Geo Political system and its problems at present it all hinges on the US mid terms ? At present Iran seems to be playing an absolute blinder, they just need to keep on spinning things out for another 12 weeks and maybe the US electorate hands them a no win no loss stand off.
You are right though when it comes to many aspects of the ‘International Geo Political System’ the damage is done and only nuance will be applied to any changes in the US. Europe, India, Japan, Canada, Brazil and many others are already headed in a different direction, it might be slightly moderated come November and 2028 but the direction is set, everyone sees the dangers of US reliance, the gradual move away is being sped up immeasurably. The Dollar is losing its power and economic control, many are seeing already the Euro as the growing safe bet, not to mention gold, the digital Euro is being launched and like Brazil has just started to initiate and prove non dollar international trade dealing, the likes of Visa and Master Card are losing their dominance, big tech companies restricted unless like Google they commit to a separate European subsidiary free from the US cloud Act and the US will never get back the power and influence it once had through soft power and international alliances. Violent military power, well we will see on that one, but Iran is showing the limitations of that one.
Iran regime has planned a show down with the great satan for decades and others here have said they can take pain. The incumbent president drained the swamp of all the Middle East experts and went in on the back of Venezuela. Trump has given Iran control of the straights and oil flow. Massive legacy to leave.
Might aswell send the plans straight to Moscow. Indians are the most dishonest people on earth.
Bad idea. India is a very nationalist country. If it goes badly they will blame RR. If it works, it will be all their own doing and nothing to do with the ‘british’.
Sounds like the US. 🤣
There is some truth in that for sure.
RR have a maintenance factory in china which handles Trent engines. RR we have to trust, know what they are doing.
Yes an MRO facility. They have them worldwide.
Hopefully the British Government will step in and stop this in its tracks.
India can’t and shouldn’t be trusted period.
Unfortunately our pathetic – traitorous politicians are extremely stupid and shortsighted so I don’t hold my breath.
can’t trust america these days, or rather its american interests first. important to consider india will be concerned like the West about china expansion
india is the sole operator of sepcat jaguar these days