India's Path to Defense Self-Reliance: Air Marshal Bharti Outlines Vision for Indigenous Aircraft Engine Development

Air Marshal Bharti emphasized the critical importance of achieving self-reliance in India's defense sector.

New Delhi:

During a recent address, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, highlighted that India's defense sector is making remarkable progress toward self-sufficiency, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) actively championing indigenous projects.

Air Marshal Bharti underscored the vital role of domestic engine production, revealing that India aims to develop its own aircraft engine within the next 10-12 years. This ambitious target requires coordinated efforts from both defense sector officials and industry partners.

"We are investigating indigenous engine production possibilities, and we anticipate having our own domestically produced engine within 10-12 years. This represents our primary objective. With dedicated effort from both military and industrial stakeholders, this goal will certainly be attained," the Air Marshal informed reporters at the Aero Tech India event in Delhi.

The Deputy Chief's statement coincides with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) collaboration with American General Electric (GE) to acquire GE-404 engines for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1. Reports indicate that HAL has committed to enhancing its manufacturing capabilities with plans to deliver 12 engines by the conclusion of the 2025 financial year.

Addressing the concept of Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), Air Marshal Bharti emphasized its significance in the defense sector, highlighting the necessity for indigenization.

He acknowledged that while achieving complete indigenization immediately presents challenges, beginning with realistic milestones can lead to substantial advancements. During critical situations, relying on domestic capabilities becomes essential, making indigenization a fundamental requirement for genuine self-reliance.

"Our focus is on self-reliance. While indigenization represents the path forward—recognizing we cannot achieve 100% indigenization immediately—we begin with what's feasible and progressively work toward complete self-sufficiency. During crises, external dependencies prove unreliable. Solutions must originate domestically. Therefore, indigenization serves as a fundamental prerequisite," explained the Air Marshal.

Regarding the recent agreement between the Defence Ministry and HAL to manufacture 97 LCAs for the Air Force, the Air Marshal expressed confidence that these aircraft, along with the developing Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), will form the backbone of India's future air defense strategy, while acknowledging ongoing efforts to address capability gaps.

"We've recently finalized the contract for an additional 97 LCAs. We're looking toward LCA Mark 2 development in upcoming years, alongside our investment in AMCA. These represent our strategic direction. However, implementation requires time. For immediate requirements, we must address existing gaps, which remains our current focus," he stated.

Earlier today, addressing industry leaders and policymakers at the FICCI and CAPSS-organized Aero Tech India 2025, Air Marshal Bharti emphasized that even 99 percent indigenous content proves insufficient if critical components remain import-dependent.

"If supplies of these critical components become restricted, we cannot scale production when necessary," Air Marshal Bharti cautioned, encouraging manufacturers to achieve complete indigenization within specific timeframes.

"We must accelerate our innovation efforts significantly. Maintaining current development rates is inadequate," Air Marshal Bharti declared, criticizing delays in transitioning projects from concept to operational deployment.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for acquiring 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, comprising 68 fighters and 29 twin-seaters, along with associated equipment for the Indian Air Force, valued at over Rs 62,370 crore.

According to the Ministry of Defence, aircraft deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027-28 and continue over a six-year period. The aircraft will feature indigenous content exceeding 64 percent, incorporating 67 additional domestically produced items beyond those included in the previous LCA Mk1A contract signed in January 2021.

In a related development, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has established a strategic alliance with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to support the Indian Air Force's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.