India takes a big step towards defence self-reliance as Rajnath Singh announces indigenous manufacturing of fifth-generation stealth jets and engines with Safran. Tejas orders boost HAL’s future.
New Delhi:
In a historic step towards defence self-reliance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced that India will indigenously manufacture its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft and jet engines. The move marks a major milestone in the nation’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) defence strategy, reflecting the country’s growing determination to reduce dependence on foreign technologies.
Speaking at the ET World Leaders’ Summit, Singh revealed that India is set to collaborate with French aerospace giant Safran to begin engine manufacturing work in India.
“Today, we have also taken steps forward in the direction of building Fifth Generation fighter aircraft. We have also moved towards manufacturing the aircraft’s engine in India itself. We are about to start engine manufacturing work in India with the French company Safran,” the Defence Minister said.
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Project
At the heart of this announcement lies the ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project. This program aims to develop India’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, designed to compete with the most advanced aircraft globally.
- The Defence Ministry’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has already issued an Expression of Interest for building five AMCA prototypes.
- Once operational, the AMCA will represent a giant leap forward for India’s aerospace capabilities, enhancing the Indian Air Force (IAF) with cutting-edge stealth, avionics, and weapons systems.
This project positions India alongside a select group of nations — such as the U.S., Russia, and China — that have successfully developed fifth-generation combat aircraft.
Tejas: A Symbol of Indigenous Success
Highlighting India’s journey in defence innovation, Rajnath Singh pointed to the success of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which he described as a “splendid example” of local capability.
“Our Tejas aircraft is going to be a great example of India’s indigenous defence capabilities. It’s not that we aren’t facing challenges in this endeavour, but we have resolved that we will find solutions to every problem and will definitely establish the full capability to build fighter aircraft in India,” he emphasized.
The Tejas LCA, designed and developed by HAL and ADA, has already been inducted into the IAF and continues to receive strong backing from the government.
HAL Secures Massive Tejas Orders
Underscoring the government’s confidence in homegrown aircraft, Singh revealed that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has secured record orders for Tejas fighter jets:
- An earlier order of 83 Tejas aircraft worth ₹48,000 crore.
- A new order of 97 Tejas jets worth ₹66,000 crore.
This brings HAL’s Tejas order book to nearly ₹1.14 lakh crore, ensuring a strong production pipeline and boosting India’s aerospace industry.
Why Indigenous Engines Matter
For decades, India has relied heavily on foreign engines to power its fighter aircraft, creating a critical dependency. With this collaboration between India and Safran, the goal is to build powerful, reliable engines domestically — reducing strategic vulnerabilities and showcasing India’s technological growth.
The initiative also ties into India’s “Make in India” defence push, which not only strengthens national security but also creates opportunities for research, innovation, and domestic job growth in aerospace engineering.
The Road Ahead
The combined success of the Tejas LCA and the upcoming AMCA fifth-generation stealth jet is expected to redefine the Indian Air Force’s future combat fleet. With homegrown technology at its core and indigenous engines in development, India is moving closer to joining the elite group of nations with full-spectrum aerospace capabilities.
The Defence Minister’s announcement highlights a clear roadmap: India is no longer content being a defence importer; instead, it is determined to emerge as a global defence innovator.
