SOURCE: AFI
India is at a critical juncture in its aerospace development with the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, which aims to develop a fifth-generation indigenous fighter jet. The project demands advanced technology, especially in propulsion systems. While India has successfully partnered with General Electric to procure the GE F-414 engines for its Tejas Mk2 and initial AMCA prototypes, a long-term solution for an indigenous engine for the AMCA is still lacking.
In this context, India might have missed a significant opportunity by not negotiating with Russia for the local development of a low-thrust variant of the AL-51F1 engine, formerly known as the “Izdelie 30”, which powers Russia’s Su-57 Felon fighter jets. The AL-51F1 engine has been hailed as a technological marvel, offering unprecedented capabilities that could have been adapted for India’s next-generation fighter jets.
The AL-51F1 engine, developed by Rostec, has exceeded expectations during rigorous testing, proving to be a game-changer for Russian aviation. The engine produces an 11,000 kg thrust in dry mode, and when using its afterburner, it can generate an impressive 18,000 kg thrust. This power allows the Su-57 Felon to achieve a cruising speed of Mach 2, a crucial feature for fifth-generation aircraft that require both speed and stealth. Additionally, the engine’s advanced design significantly reduces the aircraft’s visibility in the infrared spectrum, which enhances survivability against modern air defense systems.
For the AMCA, however, a lower thrust engine around the 120kN range is more appropriate, given the jet’s size, mission profile, and performance requirements. The AL-51F1 engine, while powerful at 176.52kN, is too potent for AMCA, but a lower-thrust variant derived from this technology could have been a perfect match.
One of the AL-51F1 engine’s key advancements is its ability to significantly reduce an aircraft’s infrared signature, which is vital for maintaining stealth in modern combat scenarios. The engine also allows the Su-57 to cruise at speeds of Mach 2 without using afterburners, giving the aircraft a tactical edge in terms of fuel efficiency and evasion of detection.
Although the AL-51F1 is currently designed for a heavier platform like the Su-57, its technology could be scaled down for a medium-class fighter like the AMCA. Russia’s willingness to collaborate on jet engine development — as demonstrated in past projects with India, such as the BrahMos missile program — suggests that a deal to jointly develop a variant of the AL-51F1 engine could have been achievable.
By negotiating with Russia for a lower-thrust variant of the AL-51F1, India could have filled this critical gap while simultaneously building the expertise required to develop future engines domestically. This approach would have been far more beneficial than continuing to rely solely on engines from Western suppliers, which come with restrictions on technology transfer.
India’s decision to go with the GE F414 engines for the initial AMCA prototypes is a practical solution, but not the most strategic one in the long run. By not negotiating with Russia for the local development of a low-thrust variant of the AL-51F1, India missed a valuable opportunity to integrate cutting-edge technology into its AMCA program. The AL-51F1’s capabilities — from its thrust performance to its infrared signature management — could have been adapted to create an engine perfectly suited for India’s next-generation fighter.