Rolls-Royce and Safran Pitch Next-Gen Engine Tech for India’s AMCA Fighter with Full Tech Transfer and Variable Cycle Power

India’s ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project has reached a crucial stage, with global aerospace leaders Rolls-Royce and Safran offering cutting-edge Variable Cycle Engine (VCE) technology to power the indigenous stealth fighter. In a significant development, both companies have committed to offering 100% transfer of technology (ToT) and full intellectual property rights (IPR)—a long-standing demand of India’s defence establishment aimed at achieving true self-reliance in critical aerospace systems.

The new engine, designed to deliver 110–130 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust, will be co-developed with India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This engine is intended for the AMCA Mk-2 variant, which is set to fly in the early 2030s, with full induction into the Indian Air Force planned around 2035.

What makes this offer particularly transformative is the inclusion of Variable Cycle Engine technology—a hallmark of sixth-generation fighter platforms. By incorporating VCE into the AMCA program, India is not only catching up with global technology trends but potentially future-proofing its fighter for decades to come.

The Promise of Variable Cycle Engine Technology

Traditional jet engines are optimized for either fuel efficiency during cruise or maximum thrust during combat. In contrast, a Variable Cycle Engine can switch between modes mid-flight by adjusting internal airflow paths. This dynamic capability offers a significant operational advantage.

With VCE, a fighter jet can cruise long distances efficiently and instantly shift into high-performance mode when needed for combat maneuvers. According to estimates, this flexibility could offer up to 30% more range and 20% faster acceleration compared to current fifth-generation engines.

More importantly, such engines are capable of supporting advanced technologies like AI-assisted combat systems, drone swarms, and directed-energy weapons, making them essential for future warfare.

Strategic Value of the AMCA Program

The AMCA is India’s answer to the rising need for stealth and multirole capabilities in a contested airspace, especially with the growing influence of adversarial platforms like China’s J-20. Designed as a 5.5-generation stealth aircraft, the AMCA will feature internal weapons bays, supercruise capability, sensor fusion, and low observability across spectrums.

While the initial Mk-1 version will fly with an existing foreign engine, the Mk-2 variant is slated to be fully Indian—powered by the new VCE-equipped engine co-developed under this program. This aligns perfectly with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, ensuring not just operational capability but sovereign control over its most advanced aerial weapon.

The Bidding War: Rolls-Royce vs. Safran

Both Rolls-Royce and Safran have brought their best offers to the table, each with unique strengths and strategic promises.

Safran, known for developing the M88 engine used in France’s Rafale fighters, has revised its proposal to meet India’s full tech control requirement. Previously hesitant to share IPR, the French engine-maker is now ready to design a completely new 110–130 kN thrust engine with India, which could also be adapted for use in the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program of the Indian Navy.

Rolls-Royce, meanwhile, has proposed a completely new engine design specifically for India, separate from its involvement in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with the UK, Japan, and Italy. Leveraging experience from the EJ200 engine that powers the Eurofighter Typhoon, and incorporating GCAP’s advanced technologies, Rolls-Royce is offering an engine that promises better stealth through low infrared signatures and superior thermal management.

Crucially, Rolls-Royce is also ready to build a manufacturing ecosystem in India, helping the country emerge as a regional hub for next-gen aero-engine production.

A Decision with Long-Term Impact

The Indian government, including the Prime Minister’s Office, is overseeing the final selection process, which involves an estimated investment of $4.5 to $5 billion. Once a partner is chosen, it will take 7–10 years to fully develop, test, and certify the engine, with mass production expected to begin around 2032–33.

This decision is not just about powering a fighter jet—it is about establishing India’s place in the elite circle of nations with the capability to design and manufacture advanced jet engines. Today, only a few countries—the U.S., Russia, China, France, and the UK—possess such capacity.

With both Rolls-Royce and Safran now offering full technology transfer and next-generation Variable Cycle Engine technology, India stands at a decisive crossroads. The right partnership could transform the AMCA into a future-ready platform and give India the technological independence it has long sought in aerospace defense.

As the AMCA project moves closer to reality, the engine that will power it is set to become a symbol of India’s rise as a self-reliant defence power, and a catalyst for building an indigenous aerospace ecosystem that can serve both military and commercial needs in the decades ahead.