SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
During a recent Defence Ministers’ meeting in Delhi on May 6, 2025, India proposed a collaboration with Japan on aero engine development, a move that could significantly bolster its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. While the specific engine program was not explicitly named, speculation is rife that India is eyeing Japan’s IHI XF9, a low-bypass afterburning turbofan engine developed by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) of Japan’s Ministry of Defense and IHI Corporation.
This proposal underscores India’s ambition to secure advanced propulsion technology for its 5.5-generation stealth fighter, the AMCA, while deepening defense ties with Japan amid shared strategic concerns in the Indo-Pacific.
The IHI XF9 engine, designed for Japan’s next-generation fighter programs, offers impressive specifications that align with India’s requirements for the AMCA. As of 2018, the XF9 prototype delivered a military thrust of 11 tons (107 kN / 24,000 lbf) and 15 tons (147 kN / 33,000 lbf) with afterburner, according to publicly available data from ATLA. However, the engine’s design is adaptable, capable of scaling to higher or lower thrust levels based on specific needs. At the ATLA Technology Symposium 2018, Japan outlined plans for a future fighter engine program targeting a maximum thrust of 20 tons (196 kN / 44,000 lbf), a capability that could meet the AMCA’s demanding performance criteria.
The AMCA, India’s first stealth fighter, is being developed as a 5.5-generation platform by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It requires engines with high thrust, supercruise capability, and low observability to compete with contemporary fighters like China’s J-20. Currently, the AMCA prototypes are slated to use General Electric F414 engines, delivering 98 kN of thrust, but these are considered interim solutions. India seeks a more powerful engine—potentially in the 110-130 kN range—for the production variants to achieve optimal performance, making the XF9 a compelling option.
The XF9’s adaptability makes it an attractive partner for India’s AMCA program. The engine’s modular design allows for scalability, which could be tailored to the AMCA’s specific needs, including supercruise (sustained supersonic flight without afterburners) and stealth features like reduced infrared signatures. Additionally, Japan’s experience with advanced materials and manufacturing techniques could help India overcome its own technological hurdles in engine development, a domain where it has historically lagged despite progress in airframe design.
While the proposal signals intent, several challenges and uncertainties remain. India has not clarified which engine program it is targeting for the AMCA, leading to speculation about the XF9. The AMCA program has faced delays in its engine selection, with earlier discussions involving the U.S. (GE F414 and F110), France (Safran M88), and the UK (Rolls-Royce) failing to materialize into firm collaborations. India’s push for indigenous development through the Kaveri engine program, led by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), has also yielded limited success, with the engine struggling to meet the required thrust levels despite decades of effort.
A collaboration with Japan could offer a middle ground, combining India’s domestic expertise with Japan’s advanced technology. However, Japan’s strict export controls on defense technology, rooted in its pacifist constitution, pose a hurdle. While Japan has relaxed these restrictions in recent years—evidenced by its participation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with the UK and Italy—any transfer of XF9 technology to India would require careful negotiation and political approval in Tokyo.
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