Analysts say the pair gatecrashing a French firm’s bid gives India options, but questions remain about delivery
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenBiman MukherjiPublished: 8:17pm, 18 Aug 2026A proposed partnership between Indian industrial giant Reliance Industries and British aerospace engine maker Rolls-Royce could mark a breakthrough in India’s decades-long quest to develop a fighter jet engine, analysts have said.But they caution that money and manufacturing capabilities alone would not be enough to overcome the technical challenges of manufacturing such an engine.
On Friday, the two companies announced their “strategic intent” to form a partnership, saying they would explore developing an engine for India’s fifth-generation advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) and setting up a facility in India to build design and development capabilities.
The two competing plans reportedly promise technology transfer and intellectual property rights for engine development, a long-standing sticking point in India’s efforts to reduce dependence on foreign defence suppliers.
India has been trying to overcome the setback of its indigenous Kaveri engine programme, which has failed to meet the air-propulsion requirements for the Tejas, its home-grown light combat aircraft.
