Reliance Industries, Rolls-Royce announce strategic intent to partner on indigenous AMCA combat engine

Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce have announced their strategic intent to partner on the design, development, manufacturing and delivery of a sovereign indigenous combat engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

The announcement was made on August 14, 2026, with the proposed partnership bringing together Rolls-Royce’s expertise in advanced propulsion and Reliance Industries’ technology, manufacturing and execution capabilities.

Reliance, Rolls-Royce plan indigenous AMCA engine

Under the proposed partnership, the two companies will explore the formation of a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India. The facility is planned as a centre of excellence for power and propulsion technology.


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The companies said the proposed collaboration would offer capabilities for the joint development of the AMCA engine in India. It is also aimed at supporting the development of an indigenous engine for the country’s fighter jet programme.

The partnership is expected to contribute to India’s efforts to develop sovereign capabilities in critical defence technologies and advance the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

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Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex to build end-to-end capabilities

According to the companies, the proposed Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex would seek to establish an end-to-end Indian capability covering design, development, manufacturing, testing, production and through-life support.

The complex could also create opportunities for broader collaboration in defence, civil aerospace, and new power and propulsion systems.

The companies said the initiative would combine Rolls-Royce’s global leadership in engines with Reliance’s established industrial capabilities.

Anant Ambani says partnership will strengthen strategic autonomy

The Executive Director of Reliance Industries Anant Ambani said developing sovereign capabilities in critical technologies was important for India’s strategic autonomy.

“India’s strategic autonomy requires sovereign capability in critical technologies. 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,” Ambani said.

He said the two companies aimed to create a long-term national capability that could make India self-reliant and eventually globally competitive in advanced propulsion technologies.

“Together, we aim to build an enduring national capability that can make India self-reliant and, over time, globally competitive in advanced propulsion technologies,” Ambani said.

He added, “This is our contribution to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat.”

Rolls-Royce CEO calls partnership a major milestone

The CEO of Rolls-Royce plc Tufan Erginbilgiç welcomed the proposed collaboration with Reliance Industries and highlighted the companies’ complementary capabilities.

“I welcome the opportunity to join forces with Reliance Industries, bringing together our century-long heritage in advanced engineering and proven engine expertise with their homegrown leadership in Indian industry,” Erginbilgiç said.

He said the collaboration, along with Rolls-Royce’s existing partnerships and capabilities in India, represented an important step towards strengthening the country’s aerospace ecosystem.

“Together, with our existing partnerships and capabilities in India, this marks a major milestone towards building a robust, self-reliant aerospace ecosystem in the country,” he said.

Partnership supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push

The proposed alliance is aimed at supporting India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision by promoting technology indigenisation and strengthening domestic capabilities in advanced propulsion.

The companies said the proposed Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex could help establish a sovereign Indian capability across the full engine development and production cycle.