New Delhi: India will soon begin producing engines for fifth-generation fighter aircraft in collaboration with French aerospace major Safran, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Saturday, calling it a significant milestone in the country’s quest for self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Speaking at an event organised by The Economic Times in the national capital, Singh said, “Today, we have taken another step forward towards building fifth-generation fighter aircraft. We are now moving towards manufacturing their engines in India itself, in collaboration with the French company Safran.”
The Defence Minister also invited international defence firms to partner with India’s growing military-industrial ecosystem, assuring full government support for investors and manufacturers.
“We will provide all necessary clearances and extend hand-holding support. Our Make in India initiative is not limited to India alone—when you Make in India, you make for the world,” he said.
The announcement comes just months after the Defence Ministry approved the execution framework for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
The AMCA project, spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) alongside private industry, will serve as India’s flagship fifth-generation fighter jet initiative.
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Highlighting the rapid growth of the defence sector, Singh said India’s defence exports have expanded nearly 35 times in the past decade.
The government aims to achieve Rs. 30,000 crore in exports this year and Rs. 50,000 crore by 2029. “Our defence exports have risen from just Rs. 686 crore in 2013–14 to Rs. 23,622 crore in 2024–25,” he noted.
Domestic defence manufacturing has also surged, increasing from Rs. 40,000 crore in 2014 to over Rs. 1.5 lakh crore in 2024–25, and is projected to approach Rs. 2 lakh crore in the current fiscal year. Indian defence products are now exported to nearly 100 countries, Singh added.
