India to make indigenous fighter jet engines from next year
India is set to begin manufacturing fighter jet engines within the country from next year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said. In a recent interview, he described this step as a major milestone in India’s push for self reliance in defence equipment and underlined that the engines would be made in India by Indian engineers and workers.
Rajnath Singh said India is in advanced discussions with several global defence companies for fighter jet engine production. Companies from the United States and France are among those in talks, including major engine makers that already supply powerplants for Indian combat aircraft. While he did not name a specific firm or contract, he stressed that the final decision will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security and that the government has a clear roadmap for domestic manufacturing.
The move is closely linked to India’s plan to power future versions of the Tejas light combat aircraft and reduce dependence on ageing Russian origin jets like the MiG 21. India has already signed agreements in recent years that include technology transfer for advanced fighter jet engines, and domestic production from next year is expected to build on those arrangements.
Rajnath Singh also made it clear that India will continue to import some engines in the short term to meet urgent operational requirements. However, he said the government has insisted that foreign suppliers manufacture in India and share critical technology so that the country is not permanently dependent on external sources. He added that there is no political pressure from any foreign government on what engines India should buy, and that decisions will be guided only by national interest.
The start of indigenous fighter jet engine production is expected to strengthen India’s defence industrial base, support future aircraft programs and create high skill jobs in the aerospace sector. It will also mark a significant step towards reducing long term imports in one of the most strategic and complex parts of military aviation.
