India, UK working on latest jet engine

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 13

India and the UK are jointly making one of the most powerful engines for fighter jets of the future and the first such engine will be unveiled within a year.

The gas turbine engine, the very latest in technology, is being developed in collaboration between UK’s Rolls Royce and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Gas Turbine and Research Establishment (GTRE), said Stephen Phipson, Head of Defence and Security Organisation, Department of International Trade, UK.

He was interacting with mediapersons along with UK Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon here after the India-UK Strategic Defence Dialogue. The UK delegation held talks with the Indian side led by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley.

“This is a very high-thrust engine. It has the highest thrust possible in a jet engine,” said Phipson, who accompanied Sir Fallon at the press briefing. He, however, refused to divulge the details.

Rolls Royce develops engines for leading global plane manufacturers, including military aircraft produced by countries such as the US.

Sir Fallon said the UK and India were looking forward to having a defence and security partnership for a sea-borne aircraft carrier besides extending defence equipment cooperation to enable companies to collaborate on air defence missiles and gas turbine engines.

“We are working on inter-operatability. We can include doctrines and training,” said Lt Gen Mark Poffley, the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, UK’s Ministry of Defence.

The two countries are looking to hold bilateral exercises in all three domains - Army, Air Force and Navy.