Rolls-Royce to make India its ‘home market’? Here’s the list of investments that it plans to make
British aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce said on Sunday (December 28) that it is considering making India its third “home market” outside the United Kingdom as part of its strategy to capitalize on all business opportunities in various sectors.
In an interview PTIElaborating on the details of the move, Sashi Mukundan, executive vice president of Rolls-Royce India, revealed that the company is planning a “major investment” in the country.
Rolls-Royce aims to expand its footprint in the country through these major investments, noting that India has “scale, policy clarity and a strong push” for a defense and industrial ecosystem that is rapidly expanding and becoming more complex over time.
Which sectors will the company appeal to?
Investments will be made in various sectors, especially jet engines, marine propulsion systems, land systems and advanced engineering.
Mukundan specifically listed developing a next-generation aero engine in India as a priority to power the fighter jets that New Delhi will produce under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
AMCA said the engine core could be modified for use as a marine marine engine or even for electric propulsion. He added that Rolls-Royce is one of the few engine manufacturers in the world with the capability to convert an aircraft engine for marine use.
In the meeting with PTIMukundan also touched briefly on the commercial aviation sector in India, stating that this sector is a rapidly growing market with the most advanced technology offered by Rolls-Royce, which will help the country grow.
“We are already partners in the expansion plans of some of the largest carriers in the country,” he said.
Memorandum of Understanding will be signed
The senior executive also said that the company will sign two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with two defense public sector enterprises in India. One of the agreements will cover the production of engines for Arjun tanks, while the other will focus on engines for future-ready combat vehicles.
At a business roundtable held in October this year, CEO Tufan Erginbilgic had conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India would be “very critical” for Rolls-Royce in the near future.
Mukundan told the news agency: “Apart from the UK, we have developed two other domestic markets; the US and Germany. We want to make India our next market. What do we mean by that? We want to do everything on the ground and it is not just defence.”
According to the senior manager, the company’s goal is; It covers the areas of defence, navy, land systems, manufacturing, advanced engineering skills and technology development, all of which are closely aligned with India’s own priorities.
Speaking about the development status on AMCA engines, he stated that extensive discussions and background studies are currently ongoing, which will eventually determine how the company plans to move forward.
Engine design work to be carried out in India
Mukundan also said that the entire engine design work can be done in India, provided that the necessary technology is transferred, provided that the intellectual property (IP) rights are jointly shared with India.
“Once you own the design intellectual property, you also have strategic control. Manufacturing comes to the next stage, and that’s always more complex. It’s about ensuring that capability is built systematically and safely,” he noted.
Stating the importance of the project, he said Rolls-Royce engines for AMCA could help India in developing electric propulsion for marine engines. The company has expertise in air engine cores used in the construction of electric and hybrid propulsion marine engines.
Rolls-Royce is on the rise in India
The vice president expressed strong optimism about India, highlighting the Indian government’s “visible focus” on developing indigenous capabilities in sea, land and air domains.
“In the long run, India will be a major global power. And India is increasingly supporting others in the Global South. There is a lot for us to work on, and it’s all interconnected,” he said during the interview.
He also stated that India is not only an important market for Rolls-Royce but also a long-term strategic home for the company, underlining his optimistic stance on the country’s growth potential and expanding role in the global aerospace and defense ecosystem.
