You dont have javascript enabled! Please enable it! Safran and Rolls-Royce Escalate Offers for India’s AMCA Engine with Variable Cycle Technology and Full IPR - Indian Defence Research Wing
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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

In a high-stakes race to power India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), both France’s Safran and the UK’s Rolls-Royce have sweetened their proposals by offering to incorporate Variable Cycle Engine (VCE) technology into a 110–130 kN thrust engine, co-developed with India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). Responding to the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) demand for cutting-edge technology to future-proof the engine for both 5.5-generation and 6th-generation platforms, the two aerospace giants have also committed to 100% Transfer of Technology (ToT) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) ownership for India, ensuring no restrictions on exports or modifications, according to sources close to idrw.org.

The AMCA, India’s flagship 5.5-generation stealth fighter project, is a cornerstone of the nation’s defense modernization, aiming for a first flight by 2029–30 and induction by 2035. The engine, a critical component, requires advanced capabilities like supercruise, stealth optimization, and adaptability for next-generation systems such as AI-driven swarm drones and directed-energy weapons. The inclusion of VCE technology—a hallmark of 6th-generation engines—marks a significant leap, enabling the engine to dynamically adjust its bypass ratio for optimal fuel efficiency, thrust, and thermal management across diverse flight regimes. This ensures the AMCA remains competitive against regional adversaries like China’s J-20 and future 6th-generation platforms.

Safran, leveraging its experience with the M88 engine powering the Rafale, has softened its earlier stance of retaining 50% IPR, now offering 100% ToT and full IPR ownership to match Rolls-Royce’s proposal. This shift follows DRDO’s insistence on complete technological autonomy, driven by lessons from the Kaveri engine program, where limited technology sharing with Safran (then Snecma) in 2016–18 restricted India’s ability to independently advance the engine. Safran’s revised offer includes a clean-slate 110–130 kN engine, distinct from the M88, with VCE technology tailored for the AMCA Mk-2 and potentially the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF).

Rolls-Royce, a frontrunner in the race, has proposed a bespoke 110 kN engine, separate from its 6th-generation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) engine with Japan and Italy, which also incorporates VCE technology. The company’s offer, emphasized at Aero India 2025, includes full IPR ownership, allowing India to modify, scale, or export the engine without constraints. Rolls-Royce’s experience with the EJ200 (Eurofighter Typhoon) and Tempest program, which integrates adaptive cycle features, positions it to deliver advanced thermal management, reduced infrared signatures, and modular designs for easier maintenance. The company has also pledged to establish production facilities in India, potentially transforming the country into a global hub for aero-engine manufacturing.

The inclusion of VCE technology in both offers responds directly to DRDO’s call for a future-ready engine. Unlike traditional low-bypass turbofan engines, VCEs can switch between high-thrust modes for combat and high-efficiency modes for cruising, offering up to 30% better range and 20% faster acceleration compared to 5th-generation engines. This capability is critical for the AMCA Mk-2’s supercruise requirements (sustained Mach 1.2+ without afterburners) and its potential evolution into a 6th-generation platform, supporting advanced systems like laser weapons.

The decision, overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office, involves a $4.5–5 billion investment for development, prototyping, and testing, with a timeline of 7–10 years to production by 2032–33. Rolls-Royce’s lead stems from its Tempest program experience, which includes VCE and hybrid propulsion, while Safran benefits from its Rafale collaboration and offset commitments.

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