India will start manufacturing fighter jet engines within the country from next year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced. The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to boost local defence production under the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” missions.
Speaking at an event, Rajnath Singh said the engines “will be made in India, by Indians,” highlighting the government’s commitment to achieving self-reliance in defence technology. For decades, India has depended on imported engines for its fighter aircraft, including the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
The domestic production of jet engines is expected to save costs, enhance national security, and create thousands of skilled jobs for Indian engineers. Discussions are currently underway with global firms such as GE Aerospace and Safran to share advanced technology and support licensed manufacturing in India.
The Defence Minister noted that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will make the final decision on the project. He emphasized that India seeks both engine production and technology transfer to strengthen its defence ecosystem.
The indigenously made engines will eventually power India’s upcoming fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Experts say the move marks a major step toward complete defence independence, even though developing advanced jet engines remains a complex, long-term process.
