French Safran + DRDO = First Indian Jet Engine @ $10 Bn | 10 Points

Delhi / Paris

✈️ India’s First Indigenous Jet Engine: $8–10 Billion Safran–DRDO Project to Power Future Fighters

Key Financial & Strategic Highlights

1. Historic Jet Engine Development Deal

   • Partners: French Safran S.A. + India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) (DRDO lab).

   • Project size: Estimated $8–10 billion over 12 years.

   • Technology transfer: 100% to India, including crystal blade technology.

2. Engine Capacity & Timeline

   • Initial thrust: 120 kilo Newton (kN) For Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

   • Upgrade plan: 140 kN by 12th year.

   • 9 prototypes to be developed within the project timeline.

3. Ownership & Intellectual Property (IPR)

   • Engine developed under Indian IPR.

   • Ensures strategic independence → no foreign licensing costs.

   • Reduces long-term import bills on spares & upgrades.

4. Private Sector Involvement (Financial Multiplier)

   • Tata Group, L&T, Adani Defence to participate in co-production.

   • Expected to create a domestic aerospace supply chain worth billions.

   • Boost to India’s defence manufacturing GDP contribution (currently ~1.6%).

5. Comparative Global Context

   • Countries with engine capability: US, Russia, UK, France.

   • China still imports/ reverse engineers engines.

   • India’s Kaveri engine (90 kN) failed, costing ~₹2,035 crore.

   • This project leapfrogs India into the jet engine elite club.

6. Financial Independence vs. Imports

   • Current reliance: GE F404 engines (212 units, ~$1.1B deal).

   • Pending order: 113 more F404 engines, ~$600M.

   • GE-414 transfer: only 70% ToT (restricted).

   • Safran–DRDO: 100% tech transfer → long-term cost savings of billions.

7. Military ROI (Return on Investment)

   • Engine to power AMCA (twin-engine stealth fighter) and Navy’s Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF).

   • Reduces foreign dependency for next 30–40 years.

   • Enhances export potential of indigenous fighters (estimated $15–20B market).

8. Strategic & Financial Trust Factor

   • France never imposed sanctions on India (Pokhran 1998).

   • Continued supply of Mirage-2000 spares + INGPS missile systems.

   • Strengthens India–France defence partnership worth $20B+ in last decade.

9. Economic & Civilian Spin-offs

   • Advanced metallurgy, turbine tech → benefits civil aviation, energy turbines, space tech.

   • Could save India $4–5B annually in energy and aviation imports.

10. Big Picture Financial Impact

    • India spends $8–9B annually on aircraft imports.

    • Indigenous engine cuts lifecycle cost by 35–40%.

    • Long-term savings: $25–30B+ over next 25 years.