Defense Minister Rajnath Singh offers indigenous aircraft engine capability for AMCA

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (Oct 6, 2026) called for building in-house jet engine capabilities as a critical part of India’s ambition to develop Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), stressing that aviation self-sufficiency cannot be achieved without mastering propulsion technology.

Speaking at the Koraput division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), where he witnessed the delivery of the 2,000th aero engine, Mr Singh highlighted the proposed investment of around ₹ 5,000 crore to develop in-house aero engine capabilities for the AMCA programme.

He also highlighted the planned indigenization of raw materials in collaboration with Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) and setting up of India’s first domestic high thrust engine testing facility. “No less important is the effort being made in collaboration with MIDHANI towards indigenization of raw materials. Setting up India’s first high-thrust engine testing facility using indigenous knowledge is also, I believe, a very important step,” the defense minister said.

Emphasizing that advanced airframes, radars, weapons and avionics cannot realize their full potential without reliable propulsion, Mr Singh said: “The aero engine is the heart of the aircraft.” He said India needs expertise in precision manufacturing, advanced materials, metallurgy, cooling technologies, testing and quality assurance to develop a sovereign aerospace ecosystem.

The minister’s remarks come as India seeks to build domestic capacity to power the AMCA, the country’s planned fifth-generation fighter jet. He said the ecosystem will need to cover the entire chain, from critical materials and design to manufacturing, testing and maintenance, repair and overhaul.

At Koraput, Mr. Singh also announced measures to expand existing engine production. HAL will increase annual production of AL-31FP engines from 30 to 50 with an investment of ₹335 million. The company is fulfilling an order for 240 AL-31FP engines for the Su-30MKI placed by the Ministry of Defense in 2024.

Despite global supply chain disruptions and raw material issues, HAL has delivered 63 engines against a target of 60 by the end of the second year of the contract, the ministry said.

Mr. Singh also announced a second production line for Shakti engines with an investment of ₹218 crore. The line will have the capacity to produce up to 100 engines per year and is scheduled to be fully operational by 2028-29. The engines will power indigenous helicopters, including the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter and the Prachand Light Combat Helicopter.

The 2,000th engine milestone, he said, reflects six decades of engineering experience at HAL Koraput, established in 1964. The division powered aircraft including the MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Su-30MKI and overhauled more than 9,000 engines. “I believe achieving the production of 2,000 engines is not only an important milestone for HAL, but also for India’s aerospace journey. I am also extremely pleased to learn that this division has already overhauled more than 9,000 engines. From indigenization of components to improving turnaround time, HAL’s efforts are continuously enhancing the operational readiness of our armed forces.”

Stating that an aircraft can have an advanced airframe, sophisticated radar, powerful weapons and advanced avionics, Mr. Singh said to use all these capabilities effectively in the sky, propulsion is absolutely essential for which the development of aero engines is important. “There is not just one technology behind an aircraft engine, but several modern and advanced technologies that work together. A modern aircraft engine can contain more than 10,000 precision-machined components and parts. Mastering aircraft engines means mastering some of the most advanced technologies in modern industry. Only a few countries in the world have been able to achieve this, and India is one of them,” he said.

Mr. Singh urged HAL to transform Koraput into a wider aero-propulsion ecosystem by nurturing suppliers, mentoring SMEs and start-ups and partnering with universities and research institutions.

He said long-term investment, specialized testing facilities, skilled workforce and a strong industrial ecosystem will be essential to develop reliable, repeatable and scalable domestic production of aero engines.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was present on the occasion. Appreciating the Odisha government’s initiatives, the Defense Minister highlighted the approval of the aerospace and defense equipment manufacturing complex at Gajamara in Dhenkanal district.

Published – 06 Oct 2026 21:22 IST