SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG


In a significant revelation regarding India’s fifth-generation fighter program, Dr. S.V. Ramanamurthy, Director of the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), has confirmed that the proposed engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) will deliver a maximum thrust of 120 kilonewtons (kN)—not 110kN as widely reported in the media.
This clarification provides new insight into India’s ambitions for its next-generation combat jet, with the upgraded thrust level indicating enhanced performance characteristics such as higher supercruise capability, improved payload capacity, and better agility. Dr. Ramanamurthy’s remarks were aimed at dispelling recurring speculation and outdated figures frequently cited in defense circles and reports.
The 120kN-class engine will be jointly developed in collaboration with a foreign partner, likely under a strategic technology transfer arrangement. The project aims to indigenize India’s high-thrust jet engine ecosystem, reducing dependence on foreign powerplants for advanced platforms such as the AMCA Mk2.
Dr. Ramanamurthy also touched upon the ISSLS (International Standard Station Location System) used in engine design, which standardizes the numbering and naming of various engine “stations” or components. This ensures consistency in design practices and communication, especially in international collaborations where joint development and engineering transparency are critical.
The AMCA Mk1 will initially fly with the General Electric F414 engine, while the indigenous 120kN engine is expected to power later variants such as the AMCA Mk2. With growing geopolitical and industrial support for domestic capability building, the AMCA engine program is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s aerospace self-reliance initiative under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
NOTE: Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.