2 weeks ago
Reliance and Rolls-Royce partner to develop AMCA fighter jet engines
Two big companies have decided to work together to build a fighter jet engine.
The companies are Reliance Industries, which is from India, and Rolls-Royce, a famous engine maker from Britain.
A fighter jet is a very fast military plane, and its engine is like its heart.
The engine they want to build is for an Indian fighter jet called the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, or AMCA for short.
The plan is to build the engine in India instead of depending on engines made in other countries.
The companies want to build a special factory in India called an Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex, where the engine would be designed, built, tested and maintained.
This is the first time Reliance Industries is getting into the defence business.
India has relied on foreign engine makers for fighter jet engines for a very long time.
Making the engine at home could help India become more self-reliant and less dependent on other countries.
But this is just the beginning of the plan, and the companies have not yet said how much it will cost or when it will be finished.
Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce announced plans to jointly develop a sovereign combat engine for India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
The companies said on Friday, 14th August, they intend to explore the design, development, manufacturing and delivery of an indigenous combat engine.
They will explore setting up a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India, envisioned as a centre of excellence for power and propulsion technology.
The proposal is currently a strategic intent to explore the partnership, not a final joint venture agreement or commercial engine contract.
The initiative marks Reliance's foray into the defence sector; Anant Ambani and Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç said it aligns with India's Atmanirbhar Bharat push for self-reliance.
- Who
- Reliance Industries, India's largest private-sector company, and Rolls-Royce, Britain's aero-engine maker
- What
- Plans to jointly develop a sovereign combat engine for India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, a planned fifth-generation stealth fighter for the Indian Air Force, and to explore setting up an Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India covering the complete engine lifecycle
- Where
- Announced from London and Mumbai; the proposed complex would be based in India
- When
- Friday, 14th August 2026
- Why
- To build indigenous fighter-jet propulsion capability, reduce India's dependence on foreign engine suppliers and advance the Atmanirbhar Bharat push for defence self-reliance
Key facts
- Companies
- Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce
- Programme
- Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
- Announcement Date
- Friday, 14th August 2026
- Planned Facility
- Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India, envisioned as a centre of excellence for power and propulsion technology
- Scope
- Design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and through-life support of combat engines
- Status
- Strategic intent to explore the partnership; no final joint venture agreement or commercial engine contract yet
- Government Funding
- ₹15 billion (around $157 million) earmarked in May for the AMCA programme
- Significance
- Marks Reliance Industries' foray into the defence sector
Quotes
Anant Ambani
Executive Director of Reliance Industries
“India’s strategic autonomy requires sovereign capability in critical technologies.””
opindia.com
Tufan Erginbilgiç
CEO of Rolls‑Royce
“I welcome the opportunity to join forces with Reliance Industries, bringing together our century‑long heritage in advanced engineering and proven engine expertise with their homegrown leadership in Indian industry.””
opindia.com









