Reliance, Rolls-Royce join hands to build AMCA combat engine

The companies said they will explore setting up a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India that would serve as a centre for power and propulsion technology. The proposed facility would seek to build capabilities across the entire aero-engine value chain, including design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and through-life support. The announcement, however, is a strategic intent to partner and does not amount to a final contract for the AMCA engine.

The partnership will combine Rolls-Royce’s expertise in advanced propulsion and combat aircraft engines with Reliance’s manufacturing, technology and execution capabilities. For Reliance, the move marks a new foray into aerospace propulsion, while Rolls-Royce already has a long-standing presence in military and civil aero-engines globally. Rolls-Royce is part of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, and is separate from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, which is owned by BMW.

“Our intent with Rolls-Royce is to combine their world-leading expertise in advanced propulsion with Reliance’s technology, manufacturing, scale and execution capabilities to build an indigenous aero-engine ecosystem in India,” Anant Ambani, executive director, Reliance Industries, said. He said the partnership would seek to build a national capability in advanced propulsion technologies and eventually make India globally competitive in the field.

Tufan Erginbilgiç, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said the partnership, together with the company’s existing capabilities and partnerships in India, marked a step towards building a self-reliant aerospace ecosystem in the country. The companies said the proposed complex could also create opportunities for wider collaboration in defence, civil aerospace and new power and propulsion systems.