British aerospace engine maker Rolls-Royce wants India to be more than just a buyer of its engines, proposing to treat the country as a “home market” by building, designing and developing aircraft engines locally rather than simply selling them from abroad.
Analysts said such a shift could provide a significant lift to New Delhi’s effort to build a fifth-generation stealth fighter under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, while forcing rival engine makers to offer deeper technology transfers to stay competitive.
In an interview with the Press Trust of India late last month, Sashi Mukandan, executive vice-president of Rolls-Royce India, said developing a next-generation engine in the country was a priority to power future Indian combat jets, including the AMCA.
“If India is thinking about next-generation engines, Rolls-Royce is probably the best partner,” Mukandan said. “We have the capability, the experience both in India and globally, and we have repeatedly demonstrated that we can do it.”
Mukandan said the AMCA engine core could be adapted for use as a naval marine engine and even for electric propulsion, noting that Rolls-Royce was among the few engine makers globally with the capability to convert an aircraft engine for marine use.
India’s defence ministry approved the development of an AMCA prototype in May last year to enhance the Indian Air Force’s deep strike capabilities, shortly after indigenous defence systems were credited with playing a key role during a four-day military skirmish with Pakistan.
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