Reliance, Rolls-Royce join hands for indigenous AMCA engine
By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi/London/Mumbai, Aug 14. Reliance Industries Limited and British aerospace and defence major Rolls-Royce on August 14 announced plans to partner on the design, development, manufacture and delivery of an indigenous combat aircraft engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
The proposed collaboration is aimed at creating sovereign capabilities in advanced aero-engine technology, a critical area where India has historically remained dependent on foreign suppliers.
As part of the proposed partnership, the two companies will explore setting up a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India that would serve as a centre of excellence for power and propulsion technologies, according to a joint statement issued by the two companies.
The proposed facility is expected to bring together Rolls-Royce’s expertise in advanced aircraft engines and Reliance’s capabilities in technology, manufacturing, infrastructure and project execution. The companies said the partnership would explore opportunities for jointly developing the AMCA engine in India.
The move comes amid India’s efforts to develop an indigenous propulsion system for the country’s next-generation fighter aircraft. An indigenous engine is considered a crucial component of the government’s broader push for self-reliance in defence technology and the development of a domestic aerospace ecosystem.
Anant Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries, said strategic autonomy required India to develop sovereign capabilities in critical technologies. He said the proposed collaboration would combine Rolls-Royce’s expertise in advanced propulsion with Reliance’s industrial and manufacturing capabilities to create a domestic aero-engine ecosystem.
Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç said the proposed partnership would combine the British company’s experience in advanced engineering and aircraft engines with Reliance’s industrial capabilities in India.
The proposed Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex would seek to establish an end-to-end Indian capability covering engine design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and through-life support, according to the companies.
The partnership could also extend beyond the AMCA programme, with the two companies exploring potential cooperation in defence, civil aerospace and emerging power and propulsion technologies.
The proposed collaboration comes at a time when India is seeking to reduce dependence on imported propulsion systems and strengthen domestic capabilities in high-end aerospace technologies. The government has identified indigenous aero-engine development as a key requirement for achieving greater autonomy in military aviation.
Reliance and Rolls-Royce said the proposed alliance would contribute to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and could eventually help establish India as a global player in advanced propulsion technologies.
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