India News : India is set to collaborate with French aerospace giant Safran to co-develop fifth-generation fighter jet engines, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in New Delhi. This strategic partnership marks a significant step in India’s ambitious push towards building its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft under the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) program.
Singh confirmed that while India had held discussions with global aerospace leaders such as Rolls-Royce (UK) and General Electric (USA), the final decision to partner with Safran reflects both strategic alignment and technical potential.
According to reports, the initial AMCA units will be powered by GE-414 engines, but the advanced Mk-2 variant will feature a 120 kN engine developed in collaboration with Safran. This indigenous development is a cornerstone of India’s efforts to reduce dependency on foreign defense imports.
Singh further stated that the government had recently approved a ₹66,000 crore order for 97 Tejas fighter jets, following a previous order of 83 aircraft worth ₹48,000 crore. “The Tejas fighter has become a proud symbol of India’s indigenous defense capabilities,” he said.
He acknowledged that the journey has not been without challenges, but emphasized that India is determined to establish full-scale indigenous production capabilities for combat aircraft, including engine manufacturing. “We are now taking the next big step by starting engine production in India in partnership with Safran,” he added.
About Safran
Headquartered in Paris, Safran is a leading French multinational company operating in aerospace, defense, and security. It manufactures engines for commercial and military aircraft, launch vehicles, satellites, and missile propulsion systems. In 2018, its acquisition of Zodiac Aerospace significantly expanded its aviation capabilities. With over 92,000 employees and a revenue of €27.31 billion in 2024, Safran is listed on the Euronext stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
Singh concluded by highlighting that India’s growing economic power is enabling it to emerge as a pillar of stability in an increasingly uncertain global order.
