By A Correspondent

New Delhi: India plans to spend about INR 65,400 crore (USD 7.44 billion) to procure engines for fighter aircraft currently under development, as part of a broader push to strengthen its indigenous aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem.

According to Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) Director S. V. Ramana Murthy, the country will need approximately 1,100 engines by 2035 for various fighter jet programmes at different stages of progress.

The projection underscores the scale of India’s ambition to reduce dependence on foreign propulsion technology and expand domestic capabilities.

GTRE is a state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) lab leading India’s military engine development.

India’s long-running effort to power its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas with the home-grown Kaveri engine has faced delays and technical setbacks.

“There is a need to work in mission mode to create an ecosystem for the indigenous fighter engine,” Murthy said at an event in New Delhi.

He emphasised that India must invest in critical infrastructure, such as high-altitude test facilities, and develop a robust industrial base to support sustained production and innovation.

Murthy also revealed that a derivative of the Kaveri engine could power an upcoming unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) project, signaling an effort to repurpose earlier research for new-generation platforms.

GTRE is spearheading collaboration with an international engine manufacturer to co-develop a new powerplant for India’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

France’s Safran, the UK’s Rolls-Royce, and the US’s General Electric have expressed interest in the joint development programme.

A prototype of the AMCA is expected to roll out by 2028, marking a key milestone in India’s bid to enter the elite group of nations capable of designing and producing stealth fighters.

India’s Narendra Modi government has been actively promoting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative in defence manufacturing, encouraging global defence majors to establish partnerships with Indian companies.

The AMCA will also be the first Indian fighter programme to allow private-sector bids, reducing reliance on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and broadening industrial participation across the aerospace sector.

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