Despite recent speculation, British aerospace giant Rolls-Royce has confirmed that it remains fully committed to co-developing the engine for India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter — the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The update comes directly from senior executive Alex Zino during his visit to Aero India 2025.
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Still in Talks With India- Rolls Royce
Alex Zino, Executive VP of Business Development and Future Programmes at Rolls-Royce, said the company is still in active discussions with Indian authorities. “We’re still engaged, still talking to the customer, and our offer is very much on the table through the UK government,” he told Business Standard.
He clarified that the engine proposal is part of a wider Defence Partnership–India (DP-I) effort, launched at Aero India 2025. This initiative aims to boost long-term defence collaboration between the two countries.
Focus on Strategic Autonomy
According to Zino, this collaboration isn’t just about building an engine — it’s about helping India gain independence in gas turbine technology. Rolls-Royce is offering to co-design and co-develop the engine in India, with full transfer of expertise and intellectual property.
He added that the company’s offer draws from its work on the UK’s sixth-generation Tempest fighter jet. Zino believes the AMCA project could serve as a launchpad for building a wider aerospace ecosystem in India.
Waiting for the Next Move
Rolls-Royce is now waiting for a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Indian government. Zino said there are still discussions ongoing about what the final engine should be in terms of size, power, and capabilities. The company is ready to act once the government defines its requirements. He also made it clear that Rolls-Royce will stay engaged in the conversation until explicitly told otherwise.
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Trade Deal Could Boost Aerospace Ties
Zino highlighted the recently signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK as a positive step for aerospace trade. This deal could lead to reduced tariffs on aviation components and benefit both commercial and defence sectors.
Rolls-Royce expects the agreement to support ongoing deals with Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo, especially as new fleets powered by its Trent XWB engines enter service.
Plans for MRO and Supply Chain Expansion
Rolls-Royce is also eyeing major civil aviation investments in India. It plans to double its aerospace supply chain output and is considering building a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hub for commercial aircraft. The company already supports HAL in servicing military aircraft and may soon extend this to commercial fleets.
It is also exploring MRO opportunities for the AE 2100 turboprop engine, a key candidate in the IAF’s upcoming Medium Transport Aircraft programme.
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India-UK Defence Roadmap in Action
The recently signed India-UK Defence Industrial Roadmap is also helping drive collaboration. Zino said it provides policy clarity and reflects India’s strong push for defence self-reliance — including IP, capability development, and localised production.
He added that the alignment of the roadmap with India’s Vision 2035, the upgraded 2+2 dialogue, and the DP-I initiative creates the right structure for real progress.
Supply Chain Contracts Coming Soon
Rolls-Royce is already working with Indian vendors and expects to finalise several contracts soon. If the AMCA engine deal moves forward, the company says it will help grow India’s defence and commercial aviation supply chain while enabling full product lifecycle capabilities within the country.
