Rolls-Royce Announces Major Expansion of Military Engine Program in India
In a significant development for India's defense sector, Rolls-Royce has announced plans to substantially scale up its military engine program within the country. The British engineering giant is actively exploring opportunities to co-develop a next-generation combat jet engine while simultaneously localizing engine manufacturing for the Indian Army, Navy, and Coast Guard.
Strategic Co-Development Offer for Next-Generation Engine
According to a company statement, Rolls-Royce has formally offered to co-develop a 120 kN class combat jet engine core in partnership with the UK government. This collaborative initiative represents what the company describes as "India's fastest route to an indigenous next-generation engine" as the nation advances its military capabilities.
The proposed co-development program comes with substantial benefits for India, including:
- Complete technology transfer to Indian partners
- Full intellectual property ownership for India
- Establishment of dedicated design and manufacturing complexes
- Significant job creation across multiple sectors
High-Level Meeting with Prime Minister Modi
The expansion plans gained momentum following a meeting between Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Wednesday. During their discussion, Erginbilgic detailed how Rolls-Royce intends to scale up its operations to contribute to India's Viksit Bharat (Developed India) vision.
Prime Minister Modi subsequently expressed his appreciation on social media platform X, stating: "It was wonderful meeting Mr Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of Rolls-Royce earlier today. We welcome Rolls-Royce's enthusiasm towards scaling up its activities in India and partnering with our innovative and dynamic youth."
Substantial Workforce and Supply Chain Expansion
The planned expansion represents a dramatic increase in Rolls-Royce's footprint in India. The company expects to more than double its supported workforce in the country, reaching approximately 10,000 employees across various functions and locations.
Equally significant is the projected ten-fold increase in supply chain sourcing from India. This expansion will particularly benefit small and medium-sized enterprises across the country, creating ripple effects throughout the manufacturing ecosystem.
Erginbilgic emphasized the company's commitment, stating: "As we grow our participation in programmes across India's defence, aviation and energy sectors, we will expand our ecosystem in India, as we have done successfully in other countries."
Comprehensive Program Benefits
The expanded military engine program encompasses multiple dimensions of development:
- Technology Advancement: Co-development of cutting-edge combat jet engine technology
- Manufacturing Localization: Establishing domestic production capabilities for military engines
- Workforce Development: Creating high-value engineering and manufacturing jobs
- Supply Chain Growth: Expanding procurement from Indian suppliers across multiple tiers
- Strategic Partnership: Building long-term collaboration between Indian and UK entities
This comprehensive approach positions Rolls-Royce as a key partner in India's defense modernization efforts while simultaneously contributing to the country's broader economic and technological development goals.
