British defence company Rolls-Royce on Thursday announced its plan to expand its operations in India in key areas like defence and energy, and it will also work on developing a new combat jet engine.
The announcement comes a day after the company’s chief executive officer Tufan Erginbilgic met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rolls-Royce is looking into the possibility of working together to create a new combat jet engine and to set up engine manufacturing in India for the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard. They are also considering power solutions for important infrastructure and industries.
These projects could significantly increase the number of jobs linked to Rolls-Royce and its partners in India, potentially boosting the workforce to around 10,000 people, the company said in a statement.
Rolls-Royce is also focusing on developing a next-generation aero engine in India. This engine will be used to power combat jets built under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
Propelling Atmanirbharta
“As India advances its next-generation military capabilities, Rolls-Royce, with the UK Government, has offered to co-develop a 120 kN class combat jet engine core that could be India’s fastest route to an indigenous next-generation engine,” Rolls-Royce said.
Rolls-Royce and the UK government are working together to develop a 120 kN class combat jet engine core as part of the India-UK Vision 2035 roadmap. This initiative will include a complete transfer of technology, allowing India to own the intellectual property, and will be backed by dedicated design and manufacturing facilities, the company added.
In India, Rolls-Royce has over 4,000 employees, including 2,800 engineers who are involved in various global projects. The company has provided more than 1,400 engines for Indian defence platforms such as the Jaguar aircraft, Hawk trainers, and Arjun Main Battle Tanks.
Rolls-Royce has established a strong industrial presence through joint ventures with HAL and Force Motors and collaborates with over 100 vendors. Recently, it opened an expanded Global Capability and Innovation Centre in Bengaluru, which is now its largest hub for digital and engineering expertise
From Skies to Seas
More than 1,400 Rolls-Royce engines are currently in use across several defense platforms, including the Indian Air Force’s Jaguar combat aircraft and Hawk trainers, the Army’s Arjun Main Battle Tanks, and various naval vessels and submarines for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. This includes models like the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercrafts and the P17 Alpha frigates, according to the company.