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New Delhi: British firm Rolls-Royce has said it is willing to work with India to co-develop and manufacture engines for the country’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft program, called the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft). Is.
In an interview to ThePrint, Kishor Jayaraman, president of Rolls-Royce India and South Asia, also said that the country would own the intellectual property (IP) rights for the engines if the partnership happens.
“Rolls-Royce believes that we can be an able partner for AMCA to build an engine in India. That is the field of the future. To co-create, co-develop and co-produce. It In line with the indigenous design and build initiative that India seeks and self-reliant way,” said Jayaraman.
He further said that India’s joint efforts to manufacture the next set of engines for its future aircraft will help develop an aerospace ecosystem in the country.
“(Our) keenness is on the co-creation concept. Because at the end of the day, when we co-create, we are generating the IP and the IP is generated locally. When a product is designed in India You create your own supply chain and you conceptualize services. It creates a new ecosystem in the Indian aerospace sector,” he said.
Jayaraman said Rolls-Royce believes it can design and manufacture the right engine with relevant agencies in India.
The company currently powers the Indian Air Force’s Jaguar Deep Penetration Aircraft, Hawk Trainers and the C-130J Super Hercules.
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Competition between Rolls-Royce and Safran
India is in talks with Rolls Royce; French company Safran, which powers the Rafale fighter; and US firm GE, which powers the light combat aircraft ‘Tejas’, for a possible collaboration in India to build a combined fighter engine.
According to sources in the defense establishment, the primary contest is between Safran and Rolls-Royce. And India will look at the key area of cost with finer details of each company’s offering in terms of technology transfer for decision making.
Transfer of technology to aircraft engines was part Offset commitment in Rafale contract also. The proposal was related to technology transfer for the development of an indigenous engine for the LCA, but this has yet to be completed by Safran. Last year, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had condemned the delay.
However, Jayaraman said that Rolls-Royce had “a lot of talks” with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and other agencies, and “very promising and fruitful conversations have taken place”.
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‘Hybrid is the way forward’
Rolls-Royce is also looking to bring hybrid engines to marine systems to power the Navy’s next generation of ships.
According to Jayaram, the future is hybrid. “The future is going to be about hybrid and all-electric. And to get into that world, Rolls-Royce is also looking at hybrid propulsion for very large carriers in the Navy’s fleet, and we can do the necessary work by partnering with all relevant partners and bringing it to India,” he said. said.
The top Rolls-Royce executive mentioned that it will not be all diesel or natural gas in the future, and also talked about the environmental impact of such engines.
“(The future) is going to be about the hybrid, because it will deliver efficiency in terms of power requirements and the environment. And Rolls-Royce firmly believes that the environment matters. That’s why we’ll bring hybrid propulsion. We’re on that. Working very seriously,” he said.
(Edited by Rachel John)
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