India is set to approve a landmark defence project with French firm Safran S.A. and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a DRDO laboratory, to jointly develop and manufacture a 120 kilo newton fighter jet engine. The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s Independence Day call for indigenous engine development and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh&rsquo;s assurance of progress in this critical area.
Under the plan, Safran and GTRE will build nine prototypes over 12 years. The engines will begin at 120 KN thrust and scale up to 140 KN. The program will be executed entirely in India under Indian intellectual property rights, with Safran transferring complete technology, including advanced crystal blade know-how vital for efficiency and durability at high stress.
The engine will power the twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and the Indian Navy&rsquo;s carrier-based fighters. India&rsquo;s private sector, including Tata, L&amp;T, and Adani Defence, will play a key role in production.
While India has earlier attempted to develop the Kaveri engine, the project failed to achieve operational success. Currently, India relies on US GE-404 and GE-414 engines, though only partial technology transfer is on offer. In contrast, France has consistently supported India, including during sanctions after the 1998 nuclear tests, and is now seen as a reliable partner.
With this project, India will join the elite group of nations capable of designing and producing their own fighter jet engines. The development promises strategic independence for the Indian Air Force and Navy, with potential civilian applications in the long term.

India-France to Co-Develop Jet Fighter Engine

Safran and DRDO’s GTRE to build 120-140 KN engine for AMCA under full tech transfer to IN

India-France to Co-Develop Jet Fighter Engine

Safran and DRDO’s GTRE to build 120-140 KN engine for AMCA under full tech transfer to IN

September 11, 2025 | 12:13 IST