Senior officials told The Times of India that DRDO will soon move the proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for approval. The engine project, with 100% transfer of technology, is aimed at designing, developing, testing, certifying and producing advanced 120-kilonewton engines in India for the twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and future platforms.
$7 billion plan with Safran
Officials said Safran’s proposal, which has been cleared by DRDO, was found to be the most viable option. Safran already manufactures helicopter engines in India and has been a long-standing partner in the aviation and defence sector. The new engine project, to be executed with DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), is estimated to cost around $7 billion.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing The Economic Times World Leaders Forum on Friday, confirmed the impending deal. “We have taken steps forward to build our fifth-generation fighter aircraft. We have also moved towards manufacturing the aircraft’s engine in India itself. We are about to start engine manufacturing work in India with the French company Safran,” Singh said.
Push for indigenous defence
The engine deal comes amid India’s accelerated push for indigenous defence capabilities. In May, Singh approved the prototype design for the AMCA, calling it a “significant step” towards strengthening India’s ability to develop advanced combat aircraft indigenously.
India, one of the world’s largest arms importers, has repeatedly sought to boost domestic production. This decade has already seen the launch of the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, new submarines and warships, a long-range hypersonic missile test, and a large helicopter manufacturing facility.Earlier, India signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to purchase 26 Rafale Marine jets from France’s Dassault Aviation to replace its Russian MiG-29K fighters, adding to the 36 Rafales already in service with the Indian Air Force.
Building Aatmanirbharta in defence
In his World Leaders Forum address, Singh highlighted how India’s defence exports have grown nearly 35 times in the past decade, from just ₹686 crore in 2013-14 to ₹23,622 crore in 2024-25, with Indian defence products now reaching nearly 100 countries. The government has set a target of ₹30,000 crore in exports this year and ₹50,000 crore by 2029.Domestic defence production, Singh said, has more than tripled from ₹40,000 crore in 2014 to over ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2024-25, and is projected to touch nearly ₹2 lakh crore this fiscal. Five positive indigenisation lists covering 509 platforms and weapons, along with additional lists by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), will ensure thousands of strategically important items are made only in India.
“Our vision of Aatmanirbharta in defence is not just about reducing imports. It is about creating an ecosystem where Indian industry, public and private, develops world-class capability and emerges as a global supplier of high-quality defence products,” Singh said.
Tejas orders and industrial corridors
Singh pointed to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) bagging fresh orders worth ₹66,000 crore for 97 Tejas fighter jets, in addition to an earlier order for 83 aircraft valued at ₹48,000 crore. “Our Tejas aircraft will be a great example of India’s indigenous defence capabilities. We have also taken steps towards making fifth-generation fighter aircraft and aircraft engines in India,” he added.
The minister underlined the role of defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which are attracting investments and fuelling growth. He noted that private sector participation is being promoted through the Strategic Partnership model, enabling Indian firms to manufacture advanced systems including fighters, helicopters, tanks, and submarines.
Budget boost and global partnerships
India’s defence budget has risen sharply under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, growing from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to nearly ₹6.22 lakh crore in 2024-25. Singh noted that strong defence is key to uninterrupted national development, pointing to the government’s resolve after “Operation Sindoor”.
He invited global defence companies to invest in India, citing Airbus’s collaboration with Tata Aerospace to build C295 transport aircraft. “When you Make in India, you make for the world,” Singh said.
India’s global outlook
Beyond hardware, Singh emphasised India’s civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). “Our measure of strength is not in the ability to command, but in the capacity to care; not in narrow interest, but in commitment to the global good,” he said.
Taking aim at Pakistan, Singh recalled a recent comment by the country’s Army Chief comparing India’s economy to a “sports car” and Pakistan’s to a “dump truck”. “If two countries got independence together, and one built an economy like a sports car through hard work and vision, while the other remained stuck, it is their own doing. This is not a joke, it is a confession,” Singh said.
He asserted that India’s prosperity must go hand-in-hand with military strength and national honour. “Operation Sindoor has already shown our resolve. We will not allow any illusion about India’s strength to take root in Pakistan’s mind,” he added.
Looking ahead
Singh said India is poised to play a leading role in shaping the future global order, driven by its values, growing economic strength, and young demographic dividend. With 65% of the population under 35, and a thriving startup ecosystem with more than 100 unicorns, India is positioning itself not only as a regional power but also as a global defence hub.
The imminent India–France engine project, he noted, would be another step in that direction, cementing India’s journey towards defence self-reliance and strategic leadership.
