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| Rolls-Royce Soar turbojet engine on display at the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, Derby |
India’s Reliance and Rolls-Royce Plan Fighter Jet Engine Partnership
NEW DELHI — August 14, 2026
Reliance Industries plans to partner with Britain’s Rolls-Royce to develop and manufacture an engine in India for the country’s future fighter jet programme, as New Delhi seeks to expand domestic defence production.
The proposed partnership will focus on the engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a twin-engine stealth fighter being developed for the Indian Air Force. A prototype of the aircraft is expected to be ready in 2028.
India approved the framework for the AMCA programme last year and opened participation to private defence companies as part of efforts to reduce the country’s reliance on imported military equipment. The decision came after heightened tensions with neighbouring Pakistan, including a military conflict in 2025.
Under the proposed agreement, Reliance and Rolls-Royce will examine the creation of a dedicated aerospace gas turbine facility in India. The two companies intend to combine Rolls-Royce’s experience in aircraft propulsion with Reliance’s manufacturing and technology capabilities.
Reliance Executive Director Anant Ambani said the proposed cooperation aims to establish an indigenous aircraft-engine industry in India by bringing together Rolls-Royce’s propulsion expertise and Reliance’s manufacturing capacity.
The partnership could also increase competition among foreign engine manufacturers seeking a role in India’s fighter aircraft programmes. France’s Safran has separately proposed working with India’s state-owned Gas Turbine Research Establishment, or GTRE, on a higher-thrust engine for later versions of the AMCA.
India has faced challenges in obtaining engines for its Tejas fighter aircraft. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics manufactures the 4.5-generation fighter, while engine deliveries from U.S. manufacturer General Electric have been affected by supply-chain problems.
Rolls-Royce has previously worked with India on military propulsion programmes and supplies engines for both defence and civilian aircraft. The proposed Reliance partnership would expand its involvement in India’s effort to develop a stronger domestic aerospace manufacturing base.
For India, developing a locally produced fighter engine would address one of the more difficult parts of building advanced combat aircraft. The AMCA programme is intended to strengthen the country’s future air power while supporting greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
