Rolls-Royce Pitches Exclusive 110kN Jet Engine for India’s AMCA with Full Tech Ownership

In a major leap toward India’s defence self-reliance goals, British aerospace giant Rolls-Royce has formally proposed the co-development of a brand-new 110 kilonewton (kN) thrust engine specifically for India's upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). What makes this offer unique isn’t just the power or advanced engineering—but the promise of full Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) being handed over to India.

Unlike previous international collaborations where critical technologies remained under foreign control, Rolls-Royce’s new engine will be a clean-slate design tailored solely to India’s operational needs. The company made it clear that this engine will not be a variant of the one being developed for the UK-led sixth-generation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), but an entirely different machine.

The AMCA, spearheaded by India’s DRDO and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), represents India’s jump into the elite category of 5.5-generation stealth fighter jets. The aircraft is envisioned to feature supercruise capability (sustained supersonic flight without afterburners), advanced stealth shaping, and high maneuverability—demands that require an equally sophisticated engine. Rolls-Royce’s 110kN-class engine aims to deliver just that.

According to the company, the proposed engine will generate around 75kN of dry thrust and 110kN with afterburner, with scope for further power growth to 120-130kN in the future. This makes it ideal for the AMCA Mk2 variant, while the initial AMCA Mk1 will take flight with imported GE F414 engines. GE has already agreed to transfer technology for its F414 engine under a separate agreement, but Rolls-Royce is banking on its unique offer of an India-specific, fully indigenous engine to sway policymakers.

Another standout aspect of the Rolls-Royce offer is the comprehensive nature of the technology transfer. It promises not just manufacturing expertise (the “know-how”), but also the in-depth engineering understanding (the “know-why”)—an essential factor for India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) and local industry to independently modify, upgrade, or even export the engine in the future.

This proposal strongly aligns with India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, which focuses on achieving strategic autonomy in defence production. Full ownership of the engine would allow Indian engineers to enhance and adapt the platform over time, without depending on foreign companies for upgrades, licenses, or spare parts.

While the new engine might include select cutting-edge technologies being explored for sixth-generation fighters—such as heat-resistant materials, improved fuel efficiency, or stealth-enhancing nozzles—it will not use the adaptive cycle engine architecture being developed for the GCAP. The GCAP engine is expected to support over 130kN of thrust and have variable performance modes to suit different missions, including powering advanced systems and unmanned teaming drones.

In contrast, the proposed AMCA engine will prioritize reliability, modularity, and supercruise capability—features most suitable for a stealth fighter designed to operate across varied theatres in the Indian subcontinent. The modular design would also make maintenance easier and enable long-term upgrades across the AMCA’s expected multi-decade service life.

Rolls-Royce is not alone in this race. French engine-maker Safran has also offered a joint development program, based on its M88 engine used in the Rafale, and has promised full technology transfer. Meanwhile, American company GE is offering an enhanced version of its battle-tested F414 engine, which powers the Tejas Mk2 and is already selected for the AMCA Mk1.

But Rolls-Royce’s pitch is distinct. It offers India not just an engine, but the strategic capacity to design and evolve its own jet propulsion technology in the years ahead. The company’s plan includes support for local manufacturing and aims to turn India into a hub for future aerospace innovation.

As per current timelines, AMCA's first prototype could take to the skies by 2029 or 2030, with production versions expected to enter Indian Air Force service around 2035. If chosen, the new engine could not only power the AMCA Mk2 but also lay the foundation for future platforms such as the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) for aircraft carriers or even a sixth-generation Indian fighter further down the line.

For India, this proposal could mark a transformational shift—not just in its fighter jet program, but in its entire aerospace ecosystem.