India is set to take another step towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, with Reliance Industries Limited and Rolls-Royce entering into a partnership to develop an aerospace gas turbine complex in the country.

The proposed facility is expected to support the design, development, testing, manufacturing and delivery of advanced aircraft engines in India, along with long-term lifecycle support.

The partnership is significant for India's efforts to develop domestic capabilities in high-end aerospace propulsion, particularly for future fighter aircraft programmes.

Aerospace Engine Complex Planned

Reliance and Rolls-Royce plan to establish a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India.

The facility is expected to become a major centre for advanced engine technology, covering multiple stages of the propulsion development cycle, from design and testing to manufacturing and support.

The project could strengthen India's ability to develop and produce sophisticated aircraft engines domestically, reducing dependence on overseas suppliers for critical propulsion technologies.

Focus on Sovereign Technology

Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani said developing indigenous technology is important for India's security and long-term strategic capabilities.

He said the partnership with Rolls-Royce would help establish a system in India for manufacturing fighter aircraft engines while also creating capabilities that could compete in international markets.

The initiative is being positioned as part of the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat push to increase domestic defence manufacturing and develop advanced technologies within the country.

Rolls-Royce Calls Partnership Significant

Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic described the partnership with Reliance as an important development for India.

According to the company, the collaboration will combine Rolls-Royce's long experience in aircraft engine technology with Reliance's industrial capabilities.

The proposed complex is intended to create a stronger domestic ecosystem for aircraft propulsion and could mark an important development in India's aerospace manufacturing ambitions.

Beyond Fighter Aircraft

The partnership is not expected to remain limited to military aviation.

Reliance and Rolls-Royce have indicated that the collaboration could eventually extend to commercial aircraft and new power systems.

This could open the possibility of India developing broader domestic capabilities in aircraft propulsion and related technologies, including potential applications for future passenger aircraft.

A domestic aerospace engine ecosystem could also create opportunities for component manufacturing, testing, maintenance and other activities across the aviation supply chain.

AMCA Programme in Focus

The partnership comes as India continues work on the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the country's planned fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

The AMCA programme is being developed for the Indian Air Force, with plans for deployment in India's military aviation fleet. The aircraft is intended to incorporate advanced stealth, avionics, sensors and weapons capabilities.

The production model of the AMCA received approval in May 2025, allowing the programme to move ahead towards development and production.

India has been seeking greater domestic capability in fighter aircraft propulsion as it works to reduce dependence on foreign technologies for critical defence systems.

Strategic Push for Defence Manufacturing

Aircraft engines remain among the most technically demanding components of modern fighter aircraft. Developing them requires expertise in areas such as advanced materials, high-temperature engineering, precision manufacturing and extensive testing.

The proposed Reliance-Rolls-Royce complex could therefore play a wider role in India's aerospace ambitions if the planned capabilities are successfully established.

For India, the partnership represents an attempt to build an ecosystem in which advanced propulsion technology, manufacturing and long-term support can increasingly be handled within the country.

The project also fits into India's broader strategy of expanding domestic defence production while positioning the country as a potential manufacturing and technology hub for global aerospace companies.

The Defence Ministry has issued a tender worth around ₹1 lakh crore for 60 multirole transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), as India moves to modernise its ageing fleet of cargo and transport planes.

The programme is expected to be led by Indian companies, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Tata and Mahindra among the domestic firms involved in the competition, defence officials told ANI.

The procurement is also expected to give a major push to India's efforts to manufacture military aircraft domestically.

Indian Firms to Lead Programme

Under the proposed programme, Indian companies will take the lead role, while working with global aircraft manufacturers to develop and produce the transport planes.

Around 20 per cent of the aircraft are expected to be delivered in fly-away condition, while the remaining aircraft will be manufactured in India.

The domestically produced aircraft are expected to contain more than 60 per cent indigenous content, according to defence officials.

The aircraft would be manufactured in India through joint ventures involving Indian companies, original equipment manufacturers and HAL.

Mahindra Offers C-390 Aircraft

Mahindra Defence has partnered with Brazilian aerospace company Embraer to offer the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft for the programme.

The C-390 is a multirole military transport aircraft designed to carry troops, equipment and cargo and can also undertake other missions.

The partnership could give Mahindra an opportunity to expand its role in India's growing military aerospace manufacturing sector.

Tata Proposes C-130

Tata is partnering with US defence major Lockheed Martin to offer the C-130 transport aircraft.

The Indian Air Force already operates 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, which are primarily used for special operations and tactical transport missions.

The existing fleet could give the Tata-Lockheed Martin proposal an advantage in terms of operational familiarity and existing support infrastructure.

The tender, however, will involve a competitive evaluation before a final selection is made.

C-295 Programme Underway

The new transport aircraft procurement comes as India is already implementing another major military transport programme involving Airbus.

The IAF is set to induct around 70 C-295 transport aircraft, with the majority expected to be manufactured in India.

The C-295 programme is being developed as part of India's broader push to establish domestic capabilities in military aircraft manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports.

The new multirole transport aircraft programme would complement rather than replace the C-295 fleet, given the different operational requirements of the aircraft.

IAF Steps Up Modernisation

The transport aircraft tender is part of a wider modernisation drive by the Indian Air Force.

The IAF has already issued a tender for 114 Rafale fighter jets as it seeks to strengthen its fighter fleet and address the shortage of operational squadrons.

The force is also considering the procurement of more than 100 trainer aircraft to replace its ageing Hawk jet trainers and expand pilot training capacity.

The expansion of training infrastructure has become increasingly important as the IAF works to support the induction of additional fighter aircraft.

Aircraft May Support Refuelling

The proposed multirole transport aircraft could have roles beyond conventional cargo and troop movement.

According to defence officials, the IAF may also explore using the aircraft as aerial refuelling tankers, allowing fighter aircraft and other platforms to remain airborne for longer periods.

The aircraft would also provide the capability to rapidly move troops, military equipment and supplies across India's large geographical area.

Such a capability would be particularly relevant for India's operational requirements along its land borders.

Push for Domestic Manufacturing

The programme is expected to strengthen India's domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem by requiring a substantial portion of the aircraft to be produced locally.

The participation of companies such as HAL, Tata and Mahindra, alongside international original equipment manufacturers, could also expand technology transfer, local supply chains and manufacturing capabilities.

The tender represents another major step in India's effort to build a stronger indigenous defence industry while reducing reliance on imported military platforms.

The final selection will depend on technical evaluations, commercial considerations and the government's assessment of the competing proposals.

Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. (SDAL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Solar Industries India Limited, has successfully demonstrated its indigenous Bhargavastra vehicle-mounted counter-swarm drone system before a special team of senior Indian Army officers. The live demonstration showcased the system's advanced detection, tracking, command-and-control, and engagement capabilities, highlighting India's growing expertise in indigenous air defence technology.

The demonstration was conducted in the presence of Indian Army officials and featured the system in its complete operational configuration. The event underscored India's ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing under the country's self-reliance initiative.

Advanced Multi-Layer Air Defence System

Bhargavastra is a vehicle-mounted, multi-layered counter-swarm drone system developed specifically to counter the increasing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and coordinated drone swarms.

The demonstration included a Command and Control Vehicle (CCV) equipped with radar, drone detection systems, and an advanced C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) architecture. A separate launcher vehicle carrying multiple launch tubes was also deployed as part of the system.

During the trial, SDAL launched a swarm of drones that were successfully detected by the radar and sensor network. The integrated C4I system generated a real-time drone attack alert, displayed the complete operational picture, and assigned targets to the launcher vehicle. The complete engagement sequence was demonstrated successfully, although live rocket firing was not conducted due to safety restrictions within the plant premises.

Designed for India's Diverse Terrain

According to the company, Bhargavastra has been engineered to operate effectively across India's varied geographical conditions, including deserts, plains, and mountainous regions at altitudes of up to 5,000 metres above mean sea level.

Its surveillance suite combines multiple technologies, including:

• Radar capable of detecting UAVs up to 10 kilometres
• Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) surveillance system
• Passive Radio Frequency (RF) sensors

These systems work together to detect, classify, and track aerial threats, allowing operators to engage either individual drones or coordinated drone swarms with high accuracy.

Hard-Kill Solution Against Autonomous Drones

Unlike conventional anti-drone systems that rely primarily on electronic jamming or signal spoofing, Bhargavastra offers a hard-kill capability capable of physically destroying hostile drones.

The weapon system employs indigenously developed unguided rockets and precision micro-missiles arranged in a multi-layer engagement architecture. This approach enables the system to neutralize autonomous drones that are resistant to electronic countermeasures while significantly reducing interception costs.

The company believes the system offers a more economical alternative to expensive surface-to-air missiles, which are often used against relatively low-cost drones.

Addressing Emerging Battlefield Challenges

Recent conflicts around the world—including those involving Russia and Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the ongoing tensions in West Asia—have demonstrated the growing use of drones in modern warfare.

Industry estimates suggest that more than 100,000 drones are now deployed annually in active combat operations worldwide. The increasing reliance on unmanned aerial systems has created an urgent need for affordable and scalable counter-drone technologies.

Recognizing this evolving threat several years ago, SDAL initiated the development of Bhargavastra as a cost-effective solution capable of defeating both individual UAVs and large autonomous drone swarms.

Milestone for Indigenous Defence Manufacturing

Speaking after the demonstration, Satyanarayan Nuwal, Founder and Chairman of Solar Industries India Limited, said the company was the first among 14 private firms to demonstrate such a system.

He described Bhargavastra as one of the world's first fully integrated, vehicle-mounted, multi-layer counter-swarm drone systems employing unguided rockets and micro-missiles specifically designed for swarm neutralization.

Indian Army officials who attended the demonstration appreciated the technological achievement and expressed satisfaction with the system's capabilities.

The successful demonstration is expected to strengthen India's indigenous defence ecosystem and represents another significant step toward achieving self-reliance in advanced air defence technologies.