Aero Engine Co-Development Program for AMCA



British aerospace giant Rolls-Royce has submitted what it describes as its final offer to jointly design and manufacture a new 120 kN-plus fighter engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

This final offer lays out a specific timeline for the new engine by promising an engine core test by 2030, first flight by 2034 and production by 2036 if the contract is signed by end of 2026.

Making an aggressive pitch against French rival Safran, the company said it was willing to create a full-spectrum propulsion ecosystem in India—from design and development to manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and future upgrades.

This, along with 100 percent complete transfer of technology and intellectual property generated under the programme that stays with India.
 
I just hope france don't betray us like they did with an suboptimal engine when doing joint development with russia.

at 13:54 he says the engine would be ready for flight testing by 2034 if we sign the contract at the end of this year, this is making me rethink with our decision going forward with Safran.
 
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Interesting. DRDO EOI for AHTCE tender says 18 prototypes are to be delivered. Gupta says only 9 will be made. So the parallel program news is true ?

Kaveri engine has been revived
Gupta points out that DRDO and GTRE’s original Kaveri engine stalled at a modest 40 kN thrust - “hardly anything” for contemporary fighters - but has now been revived with an 80 kN target. The idea is to use Kaveri as a technology demonstrator and then scale up, learning by doing despite the enormous cost and labour demands of engine development—estimated at 10–15 billion dollars per modern design.​

GE delivered two more engines ?
A contract for 212 GE F404 engines will feed the Tejas Mk1A/1A+ fleet, with nine engines already delivered but further supplies delayed by supply chain issues rather than political will.
 
Someone plz help me understand the rationale behind Rolls Royce partnering with Reliance for, checks again, developing a jet engine for AMCA. Reliance, or any of its subsidiaries, haven't got much, if any at all, experience of R&D/mfg of jet engine components.

If RR was desperate, and it does reek of desperation, it could've partnered with the likes of Bharat Forge and Godrej Aerospace, alongside a bunch of SMEs like Azad Engineering etc who make precision components for jet engine makers. BFL is involved in mfg of forged and machined components for RR's Trent, Pearl 700 and 10X engines. Godrej is involved with KDE project and makes composite parts for GE's turbines. All such companies would jump at the opportunity for a deeper collaboration, so RR's "inent to partner with RIL" is something I'm struggling to make sense of.
 
Someone plz help me understand the rationale behind Rolls Royce partnering with Reliance for, checks again, developing a jet engine for AMCA. Reliance, or any of its subsidiaries, haven't got much, if any at all, experience of R&D/mfg of jet engine components.

If RR was desperate, and it does reek of desperation, it could've partnered with the likes of Bharat Forge and Godrej Aerospace, alongside a bunch of SMEs like Azad Engineering etc who make precision components for jet engine makers. BFL is involved in mfg of forged and machined components for RR's Trent, Pearl 700 and 10X engines. Godrej is involved with KDE project and makes composite parts for GE's turbines. All such companies would jump at the opportunity for a deeper collaboration, so RR's "inent to partner with RIL" is something I'm struggling to make sense of.
Reliance Industries (read Mukesh bhai) has deeper pockets that most. I'd wager he's going go the strategic acquisitions route to rapidly build up capabilities in the next few yrs. Much the same way as Adani which has picked up stakes in 3-4 specialist aerospace/defence firms over the yrs, including ADTL.

For once, Reliance is putting its money to good use.
 
Reliance Industries (read Mukesh bhai) has deeper pockets that most. I'd wager he's going go the strategic acquisitions route to rapidly build up capabilities in the next few yrs. Much the same way as Adani which has picked up stakes in 3-4 specialist aerospace/defence firms over the yrs, including ADTL.

For once, Reliance is putting its money to good use.
You can't buy an engineering culture that quickly in such a strategically deep tech area.
 
Someone plz help me understand the rationale behind Rolls Royce partnering with Reliance for, checks again, developing a jet engine for AMCA. Reliance, or any of its subsidiaries, haven't got much, if any at all, experience of R&D/mfg of jet engine components.

If RR was desperate, and it does reek of desperation, it could've partnered with the likes of Bharat Forge and Godrej Aerospace, alongside a bunch of SMEs like Azad Engineering etc who make precision components for jet engine makers. BFL is involved in mfg of forged and machined components for RR's Trent, Pearl 700 and 10X engines. Godrej is involved with KDE project and makes composite parts for GE's turbines. All such companies would jump at the opportunity for a deeper collaboration, so RR's "inent to partner with RIL" is something I'm struggling to make sense of.
Reliance Industries (read Mukesh bhai) has deeper pockets that most. I'd wager he's going go the strategic acquisitions route to rapidly build up capabilities in the next few yrs. Much the same way as Adani which has picked up stakes in 3-4 specialist aerospace/defence firms over the yrs, including ADTL.

For once, Reliance is putting its money to good use.
Unable to understand why's RR so desperate ? Their lead contactors in the development of the TF for the GCAP project besides being a vital part of the F-135 project & its successor now.

In addition to these they have an extensive clientele both domestic & international for their range of TFs for air & marine applications apart from their range of generators.

I suspect the British government has told them not to expect handouts in the future given the declining British economy . In any case internal assessments may have highlighted cutting dependency on domestic programs & expanding their footprint overseas.

The usual factors are at play here which I've highlighted before in case of le Francais too. Rapidly plunging TFR , stricter immigration policies now likely to be more stringent as we go ahead limiting the talent pool for cutting edge state of the art R&D & mfg , deteriorating economy & bleak future prospects etc.

Hence taking a long term view where exactly should they be present ? Why India of course ?! Largest pool of engineering talent on the cheap for R&D & mfg , a booming economy likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future , an unsafe neighborhood thus ensuring a ready market for RR products , deep pockets , a large market etc.

Could also have to do with the fact that apart from the Turks & the Koreans we're the only game in town. RR which was a consultant to the indigenous TF project for the 5th Gen KAANa had a fallout with the Turks ostensibly on the issue of IPR . The real reason is unknown while the Koreans are partnering with the US.

Incidentally the CEO / MD of RR is a converted Greek. Wonder how much part that played in cultivating deeper ties with the Turks & permitting them access to tech they'd otherwise be unable to develop on their own.

As far as the reason for the partnership with Mukesssbhai , it's simple. Like all good banias he doesn't believe much in R&D , hence will continue to be a junior partner in the JV for a long time to come or kingdom come , has deep pockets & is well networked. RR couldn't have asked for a better partner except perhaps Adani.
 
Unable to understand why's RR so desperate ?
I understand why RR wants a foothold in the Indian market, and the absolute bank they can make if the engine JV for AMCA goes their way (alongside supplying MT30 turbines for future warship projects). Excellent point about the huge pool of engineering talent on the cheap, but much of that talent actually is with the companies RR hasn't solicited for this JV. Partnering with Mukeshbhai, and not enlisiting any of the companies already embedded in their (and other OEMs') supply chain is what's doing my head in.

As far as the reason for the partnership with Mukesssbhai , it's simple. Like all good banias he doesn't believe much in R&D , hence will continue to be a junior partner in the JV for a long time to come or kingdom come , has deep pockets & is well networked. RR couldn't have asked for a better partner except perhaps Adani.
Having RIL's bottomless pit of money on your side is good, but not having any Indian aero parts manufacturer may count against them. I'm not sure if this step strengthens their bid for the engine JV.

Could also have to do with the fact that apart from the Turks & the Koreans we're the only game in town. RR which was a consultant to the indigenous TF project for the 5th Gen KAANa had a fallout with the Turks ostensibly on the issue of IPR . The real reason is unknown while the Koreans are partnering with the US.

Incidentally the CEO / MD of RR is a converted Greek. Wonder how much part that played in cultivating deeper ties with the Turks & permitting them access to tech they'd otherwise be unable to develop on their own.
I haven't followed the developments concerning their partnership with the Turks regarding Kaan's engine, but if they had a fallout regarding IPR, then I don't see how that won't pose an issue here? I'm aware that RR actually had the first mover advantage regarding AMCA JV engine, they proposed the joint development of a brand new engine with joint IPR long before the French did, but politics favoured the French.
 
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