By Staff Correspondent
The Aero India 2025 show in Bengaluru marked a significant moment for Rolls-Royce, as the renowned engineering company underscored its strategic intent to support India’s aspirations for defence indigenization and modernization. With a legacy of decades-long collaboration and commitment to India’s industrial and defence ecosystems, Rolls-Royce used the platform to highlight its strengthened partnerships, technological capabilities, and future-focused initiatives in the country.
Alex Zino, Executive Vice President – Business Development and Future Programmes (Defence) at Rolls-Royce, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to building a strong, self-reliant India. In his address, he highlighted Rolls-Royce’s alignment with India’s broader vision of “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) while emphasizing the company’s longstanding efforts to foster critical capabilities for national security, economic resilience, and energy independence. With plans to double its supply chain sourcing from India by 2030, the company is well-positioned to expand its contribution to the country’s defence ecosystem.
This ambitious expansion is not only a response to India’s goals of self-reliance but also aligns with the Raksha Mantri’s (Defence Minister’s) recent call for greater global supply chain integration with India. Rolls-Royce’s decision to reinforce its partnerships and enhance local production is expected to further India’s defence manufacturing capabilities while providing a foundation for technology co-development and innovation in cutting-edge combat systems.
Forging Stronger Collaborations
Rolls-Royce’s ongoing and newly formed collaborations illustrate its deep commitment to co-developing solutions specific to India’s needs. Notably, the company has partnered with Triveni Engineering and Industries Limited to explore the design, development, and manufacturing of 4MW marine gas turbine generators (GTGs) in India. This collaboration will address the needs of Indian defence forces while supporting Rolls-Royce’s comprehensive sales, maintenance, and service solutions for these advanced technologies.
Additionally, the company announced a partnership with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the production and localization of its Series 4000 governmental marine engines. These partnerships are vital for the advancement of localized technologies in naval propulsion systems, contributing to the modernization efforts of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
An equally ambitious endeavour from Rolls-Royce is its proposal for co-developing combat engine technologies in India. Abhishek Singh, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Future Programmes for India and Southeast Asia (Defence), emphasized that this initiative goes beyond mere technology transfer: it aims to empower India with the ability to build and own intellectual property (IP) for advanced combat engine platforms. This effort is poised to enhance India’s capability for future upgrades, exports, and indigenous innovation, reinforcing the country’s emergence as a global defence powerhouse.
Supporting India’s Armed Forces: A Legacy of Excellence
Rolls-Royce’s association with the Indian Armed Forces spans several decades and includes contributions across air, land, and sea domains. Presently, over 1,400 Rolls-Royce engines power Indian military platforms, including the Indian Air Force’s aircraft, the Army’s Arjun Main Battle Tanks, and numerous maritime vessels used by the Navy and Coast Guard. This longstanding relationship is a testament to the company’s focus on delivering complex, cutting-edge power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical missions essential to India’s defence umbrella.
GS Selwyn, Managing Director of MTU India and representative of Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems business underscored the importance of Aero India as a platform to engage with defence stakeholders and demonstrate advanced technology solutions. He noted that Rolls-Royce’s power systems currently play a vital role in enhancing the mission readiness of key Indian defence organizations. With plans to accelerate local production of high-power propulsion engines for marine and land platforms, Rolls-Royce is further deepening its role in India’s journey towards defence self-reliance.
A Vision for the Future: Innovation and Self-Reliance
Aero India 2025 offered Rolls-Royce an opportunity to reinforce its alignment with India’s bold vision for defence modernization and self-reliance under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) initiative. The company’s strategy to localize manufacturing, expand its Indian supply chain, and cultivate indigenous ownership of advanced technologies sets the stage for India to strengthen its global influence in the defence and aerospace sectors.
By enabling co-development and supporting India’s indigenous talent base, Rolls-Royce is not only investing in a stronger India but also enhancing its position as a key strategic partner for the nation. As the company continues to accelerate efforts across engineering, manufacturing, and technological innovation, it reaffirms its role as a vital contributor to India’s efforts to build a robust and dynamic defence ecosystem.
Rolls-Royce’s participation at Aero India 2025 serves as a clear testament to its confidence in India’s potential as a global defence manufacturing hub. Through its focus on collaboration, innovation, and localization, the company continues to position itself as a vital ally in India’s efforts to achieve self-reliance, indigenization, and defence modernization. As India embraces its vision of “Viksit Bharat,” Rolls-Royce’s contributions will undoubtedly play a significant role in enabling the country’s goal of becoming a global leader in advanced technologies and defence systems. With a shared vision and commitment to progress, Rolls-Royce and India are poised to chart a course towards a secure and prosperous future together.
