Reliance and Rolls-Royce plan indigenous combat engine for India’s AMCA fighter programme

A proposed partnership between Indian industrial giant Reliance Industries and British aerospace engine maker Rolls-Royce could mark a breakthrough in India’s decades-long quest to develop a fighter jet engine, analysts have said. But they caution that money and manufacturing capabilities alone would not be enough to overcome the technical challenges of manufacturing such an engine. On Friday, the two companies announced their “strategic intent” to form a partnership, saying they would explore...

The proposed collaboration comes as India seeks greater self-reliance in defence technology and prepares to develop next-generation twin-engine combat aircraft

The AMCA prototype is expected to roll out in 2028 as India expands domestic defence capabilities.

The AMCA prototype is expected to roll out in 2028 as India expands domestic defence capabilities.

India’s Reliance Industries and Britain’s Rolls-Royce announced on Friday plans to jointly design and manufacture engines for New Delhi’s multirole indigenous fighter jet programme. Reliance Industries Limited, India’s largest private sector company, has been expanding into defence production in military aerospace and advanced munitions to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. India, one of the world’s largest arms importers, has made the modernisation of its defence forces a top priority, with repeated pushes to boost domestic production. Rolls-Royce builds engines for commercial use by the world’s biggest aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, as well as for fighter jets. The pair of industry giants issued a joint statement announcing “their strategic intent to partner and offer capabilities for the design, development, manufacturing and delivery of a sovereign indigenous combat engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme”. The statement did not reveal the scale of investment the two companies will make for the partnership. The AMCA is India’s flagship fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter jet, developed locally for its air force. The partnership “marks a major milestone towards building a robust, self-reliant aerospace ecosystem in the country,” the statement quoted Rolls-Royce Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic as saying. “Together, we aim to build an enduring national capability that can make India self-reliant and, over time, globally competitive in advanced propulsion technologies,” said Reliance Executive Director Anant Ambani. Under Modi, India has prioritised modernisation of its military “driven by a self-reliant and future-ready defence sector”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told soldiers on Friday on the eve of the country’s 80th independence day. Last month, India approved the purchase of a range of military equipment worth $5.46 billion, including missiles, electronic warfare systems and kamikaze drones. New Delhi, over the last decade, has sought to reduce its dependence on Russia, its traditional main supplier of military equipment, turning to other countries like the United States and France, as well as boosting domestic production. India is also rapidly modernising its navy with domestic production of ships and submarines. A four-day conflict with Pakistan last year highlighted the need for Delhi to upgrade its defence capabilities. Earlier this year, New Delhi approved the purchase of $39 billion worth of defence equipment, including Rafale jets from France.India’s current defence budget is $85 billion.

RIL and R-R will explore the formation of a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex that will be a centre of excellence for power and propulsion technology in India

Reliance RollsRoyce join hands to develop engine for Indias AMCA fighter jet

New Delhi, August 14, 2026: Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce on Friday said they intend to jointly develop a sovereign combat engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, marking a bid by India’s largest private-sector company and Britain’s storied aero-engine maker to build indigenous fighter-jet propulsion capability in the country.The two companies, in a joint statement, said they would explore forming a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India, envisioned as a centre of excellence for power and propulsion technology, covering design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and through-life support of combat engines.Reliance Industries Limited (Reliance) and Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) today announced their strategic intent to partner and offer capabilities for the design, development, manufacturing and delivery of a sovereign indigenous combat engine for India's Advanced Medium… pic.twitter.com/0zFn8zqusb— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2026Proposed Aerospace ComplexThe proposed partnership would combine Britain’s storied aero-engine maker’s technology and expertise with Reliance’s technology, manufacturing and execution capabilities to develop the AMCA engine in India.The announcement frames the tie-up as advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for the country’s defence sector to produce an indigenous engine to power its fighter jet programme, part of the broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, or self-reliant India, initiative.“India’s strategic autonomy requires sovereign capability in critical technologies,” Anant Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries, said in the statement.He said the partnership would combine Rolls-Royce’s propulsion expertise with Reliance’s “technology, manufacturing, scale and execution capabilities” to build an aero-engine ecosystem in India that could become “self-reliant and, over time, globally competitive”.Industry Leaders SpeakRolls-Royce Chief Executive Officer Tufan Erginbilgic said the alliance brings together “our century-long heritage in advanced engineering and proven engine expertise” with Reliance’s standing in Indian industry, calling it “a major milestone towards building a robust, self-reliant aerospace ecosystem in the country”.The companies said the venture could also open the door to broader collaboration in defence, civil aerospace and new power and propulsion systems, beyond the AMCA engine itself.The AMCA is India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter programme; developing a domestically produced engine for it has been a longstanding goal of the country’s defence establishment, which currently relies on foreign suppliers for fighter engines.No Financial Details DisclosedThe strategic intent announcement does not itself constitute a signed joint venture or contract; the companies described it as a step towards exploring the formation of the proposed gas turbine complex.Reliance, led by Chairman Mukesh Ambani, is India’s largest private-sector company by revenue, with businesses spanning oil-to-chemicals, retail, digital services and media.Rolls-Royce, listed in London, has operations in 47 countries and serves customers, including airlines, aircraft lessors, armed forces, navies, and marine and industrial clients.Neither company disclosed financial terms, a timeline, or details of the ownership structure for the proposed gas turbine complex.Also Watch: Ambani Family Tops India’s Most Valuable Family Businesses List With Reliance Valued At ₹25.83 Lakh CroreThe proposed Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex would aim to develop end-to-end capabilities in India spanning design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and through-life support, the companies said.The partnership could also open opportunities for wider collaboration across defence, civil aerospace and new power and propulsion systems, they said.(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

In a joint statement, the two companies said they would explore setting up an Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India. The proposed facility would aim to develop expertise across the entire engine lifecycle, including design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and long-term maintenance and support. The partnership would bring together Rolls-Royce's experience in aero-engine technology with Reliance's capabilities in technology, manufacturing and project execution.

A prototype of the jet, known as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, is expected to roll out in 2028