Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) called for building indigenous aero-engine capabilities as a critical component of India’s ambition to develop the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), stressing that self-reliance in aerospace cannot be achieved without mastering propulsion technology.
Speaking at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Koraput division, where he witnessed the delivery of the 2,000th aero-engine, Mr. Singh highlighted a proposed investment of around ₹5,000 crore for developing indigenous aero-engine capabilities for the AMCA programme.
He also underlined the planned indigenisation of raw materials in partnership with Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) and establishment of India’s first indigenous high-thrust engine testing facility. “The efforts being made in partnership with MIDHANI towards the indigenisation of raw materials are equally important. The establishment of India’s first high-thrust engine testing facility using indigenous expertise is also, I believe, a very important step,” said the Defence Minister.
Emphasising that advanced airframes, radars, weapons and avionics could not realise their full potential without reliable propulsion, Mr. Singh said, “The aero-engine is the heart of an aircraft.” He said India needed expertise in precision manufacturing, advanced materials, metallurgy, cooling technologies, testing and quality assurance to develop a sovereign aerospace ecosystem.
The Minister’s remarks come as India is seeking to build domestic capability for the propulsion requirements of the AMCA, the country’s planned fifth-generation fighter aircraft. He said the ecosystem would have to cover the entire chain, from critical materials and design to manufacturing, testing and maintenance, repair and overhaul.
At Koraput, Mr. Singh also announced measures to expand existing engine production. HAL will increase annual production of AL-31FP engines from 30 to 50 with an investment of ₹335 crore. The company is executing an order for 240 AL-31FP engines for the Su-30MKI placed by the Defence Ministry in 2024.
Despite global supply-chain disruptions and raw-material challenges, HAL has delivered 63 engines against a target of 60 by the end of the second year of the contract, the Ministry said.
Mr. Singh also announced a second production line for Shakti engines with an investment of ₹218 crore. The line will have the capacity to manufacture up to 100 engines annually and is scheduled to be fully established by 2028-29. The engines will power indigenous helicopters, including the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter and Prachand Light Combat Helicopter.
The 2,000th engine milestone, he said, reflected six decades of engineering experience at HAL Koraput, established in 1964. The division has powered aircraft including the MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Su-30MKI and has overhauled more than 9,000 engines. “I believe the achievement of producing 2,000 engines is not merely an important milestone for HAL, but also for India’s aerospace journey. I am also extremely pleased to learn that this division has already overhauled more than 9,000 engines. The efforts being made by HAL from indigenisation of components to improving turnaround time are continuously strengthening the operational readiness of our Armed Forces,” he said.
Stating that an aircraft may have an advanced airframe, sophisticated radar, powerful weapons and advanced avionics, Mr. Singh said to effectively use all these capabilities in the sky, propulsion is absolutely essential for which development of aero engines are important. “Behind an aero engine, it is not just one technology but several modern and advanced technologies working together. A modern aero engine can contain more than 10,000 precision-engineered components and parts. Mastery of aero engines means gaining mastery over some of the most advanced technologies in modern industry. Only a few countries in the world have been able to achieve this, and India is one of them,” he said.
Mr. Singh urged HAL to turn Koraput into a wider aerospace propulsion ecosystem by nurturing suppliers, mentoring MSMEs and start-ups, and collaborating with universities and research institutions.
He said long-term investment, specialised testing facilities, skilled manpower and a strong industrial ecosystem would be essential for developing reliable, repeatable and scalable indigenous aero-engine production.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was present on the occasion. Appreciating the initiatives of the Odisha Government, Defence Minister highlighted the approval for an Aerospace and Defence Equipment Manufacturing Complex at Gajamara in Dhenkanal district.
Published – October 06, 2026 09:22 pm IST
