Rolls Royce says eyeing tenfold rise in India sourcing

British defence and aerospace company Rolls-Royce said on Thursday that it is exploring opportunities in India that could potentially lead to a tenfold increase in the company’s supply chain sourcing from India.

Rolls-Royce said in a press statement a day after its CEO, Tufan Erginbilgic, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi that it is currently exploring opportunities in India that include the potential co-development of a next-generation combat jet engine, as well as partnerships to localise and manufacture engines for the Indian Army, Navy and Coast Guard and potentially power solutions for critical infrastructure and industry.

These initiatives, it said, could more than double the size of the workforce that supports Rolls-Royce and its partners to approximately 10,000 people in India.

“We are determined to partner India on its Atmanirbhar journey, by developing indigenous propulsion capabilities, providing sustained power to critical infrastructure and industry, and expanding local manufacturing for global supply chains,” the CEO was quoted in a statement.

Rolls-Royce, backed by the U.K. Government, has proposed working jointly with India to develop the core of a powerful fighter jet engine. The engine would be in the 120 kilonewton (kN) thrust class, which is the level of power needed for modern combat aircraft. The co-development will provide full technology transfer with IP ownership for India, supported by a dedicated design complex and manufacturing capabilities