Big Boost For Atmanirbhar Defence: Rs 30,000-Crore Fighter Jet Engine Deal Nears PM-Led CCS Nod - Safran Set to Power India’s AMCA

The Safran deal, for the co-development of an engine for an Indian fighter plane-- the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is reaching the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister

Narendra Modi. After being cleared by the Defence Ministry during a high-level meeting presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, it had gone to the National Security Council (NSC), which is familiar with the project, having been part of the planning process, and the Expenditure department of the Finance Ministry. After the inter-ministerial clearances, only the CCS approval is necessary for this deal worth over Rs 30,000 crore. A final clearance by the CCS, which comprises, apart from the Prime Minister, the ministers of defence, external affairs, home and finance as well as the national security advisor, work can begin on the project. After considerable discussions, Safran, a French firm, was chosen as the firm to work with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the co-development of the engine in India-- this being the Atmanirbharata or self-reliance era. Two major candidates were GE, the American firm, and Rolls-Royce, which is British. The Russians had also expressed some interest in the project. Work can begin on the engine once the CCS clears the project. The Indian Air Force has worked closely with the French in the past and in recent years, apart from the Anglo-French Jaguar, it is using the Mirage-2000 and the Rafale, which the Navy also has.

Delayed GE engines

For the Light Combat Aircraft, the largely indigenous fighter developed by the DRDO, GE has supplied only five engines so far. Supply chain difficulties are the primary reason, highly-placed sources said. The project for 180 fighter aircraft (83 in the first tranche and 97 in the next) is, of course, delayed, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Five more are expected in the next three months-- the end of the financial year and in the next financial year, another 20 engines. By then, at least, there will be enough for a squadron. The last engines should arrive by 2032, seven years after the programme began.