The Indian government’s allocation of ₹61,000 crores for the development of a new 120kN thrust engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has underscored a major policy turn, prioritizing international partnerships over the full indigenization path attempted with the earlier Kaveri program. According to recent defence ministry recommendations, French engine manufacturer Safran is set to partner with India, providing complete technology transfer and aligning the engine development schedule with planned AMCA prototypes, expected to roll out by 2026-27 and undertake maiden flights by 2028. Initial AMCA batches will utilize US- made GE F414 engines until the Indo-French project is ready. The Kaveri engine, started in the late 1980s, struggled with chronic underfunding and technical hurdles, offering only about 49-51kN thrust, falling short for advanced fighter applications. Nonetheless, a derivative is now being developed for unmanned aerial vehicles, marking renewed interest in tapping indigenous expertise. While critics argue that earlier robust investment might have made Kaveri suitable for fifth-generation jets, the government’s current strategy aims to combine high-technology collaboration with strengthened domestic R&D and production capabilities for future self-reliance.
