India developing engine for sixth-generation fighter jet?

Even as the development of India's fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme is underway, reports suggest that efforts are on to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet engine, which could power future variants of AMCA.

 

Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a laboratory under India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is into is the research, design, development, and integration of advanced aero gas turbine engines, is planning to build a next-generation, high-thrust turbofan 120 kN engine, and is in talks with global engine makers such as Safran, Rolls-Royce, and General Electric (GE) for possible collaboration in this regard, according to a MoneyControl report.

 

While the Mark-1 variant of AMCA will be powered by  F414 engines by GE, GTRE is reportedly planning an indigenous engine for the Mark-2 variant, which is expected to have several sixth-generation capabilities.

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The MoneyControl report suggests that several Indian and international companies are looking for a partnership in this regard.

 

Meanwhile, an idrw.org report claimed that GTRE confirmed that India does have the technical know-how to develop a fifth-generation fighter engine, but as there is no demand for this currently, it is focusing on developing the sixth-generation engine.

 

The experience GTRE gained from coming up with the Kaveri engine has helped in developing the capabilities to design a next-generation fighter engine, a GTRE official told idrw.org. "Our focus is now on ensuring that the sixth generation engine will not only meet AMCA's current thrust and performance requirements, but also support future airframes and sixth generation platforms. Scalability and growth margins are being factored into the design from the very beginning," the official has been quoted as saying.

 

It is to be noted that some time ago, Aeronautical Development Agency DG Jitendra Jadhav had said the AMCA programme will be highly advanced and will have sixth-generation technology embedded into it.

 

 

Defence