India will soon begin manufacturing fighter jet engines domestically in collaboration with a French company, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Friday.
“We are moving forward to manufacture aircraft engines in India itself,” Singh said at a defence conference in New Delhi. “We are collaborating with a French company to start engine production in India.”
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While Rajnath Singh did not name the firm, Indian media widely reported it to be Safran, a long-time player in India’s aviation and defence industries.
Earlier in May, Singh approved the prototype of India’s 5th-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), calling it a “significant push” towards self-reliance.
The AMCA project is central to India’s long-term goal of reducing dependence on imported defence technology.
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Rajnath Singh has pledged at least $100 billion in domestic defence contracts by 2033 to accelerate local production.
