DRDO currently engaged in talks with multiple engine vendors like Rolls-Royce, GE and Snecma on the possible development of an uprated engine from their existing platform which can deliver 110kN thrust to power India’s 5th generation fighter jet Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
What idrw.org can confirm is that DRDO and interim head of DRDO K. Tamilmani are in favor of using General Electric developed military turbofans for India’s 5th generation fighter aircraft program. GE has supplied engines which currently are used to power Tejas MK-1 and soon will also supply higher thrust F414-GE-INS6 engines to power Tejas MK-II aircrafts.
Tamilmani recently told Journalist that with Government to Government route with US now open, we could be happy to use an uprated variant of F414 engines which meets AMCA thrust requirements. he also went on to say that the Preliminary design of AMCA has been frozen and DRDO already possess basic technologies needed to execute the program.
Key focus area required for AMCA which are not available on LCA are Stealth, Supercruise, and Thrust Vectoring Nozzle. while Super cruise will depend on the engine selected and Thrust Vectoring Nozzle likely will be sourced.
idrw.org in its previous report ( Read GTRE and Klimov agree to develop Multi-Axis Thrust Vectoring Nozzle ) had disclosed that India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) and Russian JSC Rosoboronexport/JSC Klimov have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for joint development of Multi-Axis Thrust Vectoring Nozzle for future generation aero-engine applications.
Russian Company has offered to develop thrust vectoring nozzle (TVN) technology based on the universal KLITV (KLImov Thrust Vector) technology which can be customized for fitment on any jet engines.
If DRDO does select GE’s engine offer, will we see mating of Russian technology with American technology in one engine ?? Such Hybrid situation might bring unusual collaboration Since Russians have confirmed TVC technology they have developed is Universal and can be mated on American engines, but the question is Will US allow such collaboration?
US-Russian Hybrid Engine to power India’s 5th gen AMCA fighter jet? | idrw.org
