New Delhi: India is in talks with four countries to develop advanced jet engine technology for fifth-generation fighter jets domestically.
Which country is to partner with India on developing jet engine technology
The central government is said to be investing Rs 40,000 to 50,000 crore in the next 10 years to develop fighter engine technology. Currently, India is pursuing military cooperation with four major countries – the US, UK, France and Russia.
The engines for the MiG-29, Sukhoi 30 MKI and Jaguar fighter jets in the Air Force are manufactured by the central public sector undertaking ‘Hindustan Aeronautics’ under a manufacturing license agreement. However, the fifth-generation fighter jets require a high-thrust ‘turbofan engine’.
Many military products are being manufactured domestically under the manufacturing license agreement with Russia and France.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation is trying to develop fifth-generation engine technology under the ‘Kaveri’ project. However, it will take at least 10 to 15 years to develop this type of technology without any assistance.
Only a few notable companies have succeeded in developing engine technology for fighter jets. Therefore, India is looking for a foreign consortium to develop engine technology for these fifth-generation aircraft.
India is in talks with General Electric Company of America (GE) and France’s Chapran Aerospace.
In this, the US government is said to have given approval to GE to share fighter jet engine technology with India.
China recently displayed a prototype of a sixth-generation fighter jet
China is set to deliver the fifth-generation JF-35 fighter jet to Pakistan
India is likely to sign a fighter jet engine production contract by this year