Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Rolls-Royce is positioning India as a future “home market”, signalling a strategic shift that places the country alongside the UK, the US, and Germany in the company’s global operations.
The British aerospace and propulsion major is planning a significant expansion across defence, aerospace, and advanced engineering, with India expected to play a central role in next-generation engine development and manufacturing.
The company’s India leadership indicated that discussions are underway for major investments aimed at strengthening local capability across jet engines, naval propulsion systems, land platforms, and manufacturing ecosystems.
A key focus area is the development of a next-generation aero engine in India to support the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
Jet engine development
Rolls-Royce is exploring the possibility of designing and developing the AMCA engine within India, including the transfer of critical technologies and joint ownership of new intellectual property. According to the company, engine design capability is central to long-term strategic control, while manufacturing would follow through a phased and structured approach.
The proposed collaboration could extend beyond combat aviation. The aero engine core developed for AMCA is also seen as a foundation for naval propulsion systems, particularly electric and hybrid marine gas turbines. This dual-use approach allows overlapping supply chains, making domestic manufacturing viable despite relatively low naval volumes.
Defence manufacturing
In parallel, Rolls-Royce plans to formalise two memoranda of understanding with Indian defence public sector undertakings. These agreements are expected to cover engine manufacturing for Arjun tanks and future-ready combat vehicles, reinforcing the company’s footprint in land systems.
India’s growing emphasis on indigenous defence capability, policy clarity, and expanding industrial base were cited as key factors driving the company’s long-term commitment. The focus is not limited to defence alone but extends to advanced manufacturing, engineering skills, and technology development.
The proposed investments could have a multiplier effect across precision machining, materials, component supply, and high-value engineering services. As India strengthens its role across air, land, and naval domains, partnerships of this scale highlight the country’s emergence as a serious participant in global aerospace and propulsion value chains.