- Safran’s India Story Reaches New Milestone with Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet Collaboration
By Sangeeta Saxena
New Delhi. 22 August 2025. The story of Safran in India is one of trust, transfer of technology, and transformation—paving the way for India’s future in aerospace. India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing received a major boost with the announcement of Safran’s collaboration to co-develop jet engines for the country’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The move marks a significant leap in indigenous aviation technology and reflects the deep trust underpinning Indo-French defence cooperation. Over the years, Safran has been a vital partner in India’s aerospace and defence ecosystem, and this landmark collaboration cements its role in shaping the future of Indian air power.
And this was announced by the Defence minister Rajnath Singh at the World Leaders Forum, “India has taken a decisive step towards self-reliance in advanced defence technologies with the announcement that Safran, the French aerospace and defence leader, will co-develop and manufacture jet engines for the country’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft – the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).We have taken steps towards making fifth generation fighter aircraft and aircraft engines in India. Safran’s collaboration will power our AMCA program and strengthen India’s indigenous capabilities.”
Safran’s new commitment to co-develop AMCA jet engines highlights the maturity of Indo-French defence ties, which have consistently evolved from platform acquisitions to technology transfer and co-production. Beyond strengthening India’s strategic autonomy under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, this collaboration underscores the long-term vision of both nations to jointly build advanced defence capabilities. As India prepares to induct its fifth-generation fighter aircraft, this partnership not only secures critical propulsion technology but also positions India and France as global leaders in collaborative defence innovation.
The Minister recalled India’s recent demonstration of strategic resolve, “Operation Sindoor has already shown our resolve. We will not allow any illusion about India’s strength to take root in Pakistan’s mind.” He emphasized that India’s ethos does not see the global order as a contest for dominance, but as, “A shared journey towards harmony, dignity, and mutual respect for all. In our tradition, the measure of strength is not in the ability to command, but in the capacity to care; not in the pursuit of narrow interest, but in the commitment to the global good.”
Safran has built a strong and long-term presence in India over the past few decades, positioning itself as one of the leading foreign aerospace and defence partners in the country. The French group operates across aviation, defence, and space, with manufacturing plants, MRO facilities, and engineering centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Goa. Safran supports India’s civil aviation market through its CFM joint venture with GE, powering a majority of the narrow-body aircraft flown by Indian airlines, while also investing in MRO facilities to service these fleets locally.
Highlighting breakthroughs in the last decade, Rajnath Singh noted, “ HAL has secured orders worth ₹66,000 crore for 97 Tejas fighter aircraft, in addition to the earlier ₹48,000 crore order for 83 jets. Defence exports have grown 35 times, from ₹686 crore in 2013–14 to ₹23,622 crore in 2024–25, reaching nearly 100 countries.” Domestic defence production has tripled to over ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2024–25 and is projected to touch nearly ₹2 lakh crore this fiscal.
In defence, Safran has partnered with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and DRDO on propulsion systems, avionics, and helicopter modernization programs. The company has consistently deepened its investments in India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat drive, contributing technology transfer, local skill development, and high-value manufacturing. With the proposed collaboration to co-develop and manufacture jet engines for India’s fifth-generation AMCA fighter, Safran’s India story enters a new phase, symbolising trust and long-term commitment to India’s strategic aviation ecosystem.
“Our vision of Aatmanirbharta in defence is not just about reducing imports. It is about creating an ecosystem where Indian industry develops world-class capability, meeting domestic requirements while emerging as a global supplier,” Rajnath Singh asserted.
The Safran collaboration is positioned as a milestone in India’s march towards Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence. The new jet engine program will be co-developed and manufactured in India, ensuring local capacity-building, skill development, and technology transfer. It will power the AMCA fifth-generation stealth fighter, ensuring India joins the select group of nations with advanced combat jet engine technology. The agreement reflects the government’s policy to reserve 75% of defence capital procurement for Indian firms while inviting global leaders to co-produce in India.
This is the beginning of a new chapter in Indo-French defence partnership! Safran will co-develop jet engines for India’s 5th-generation AMCA fighter, boosting Aatmanirbhar Bharat. From the Mirage to Rafale and now AMCA, Indo-French ties continue to soar higher.
