‘Rolls-Royce is actively pursuing to codevelop India's stealth jet engine,’ says Executive VP Alex Zino

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United Kingdom (UK) in July saw the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the adoption of Vision 2035 to usher in bilateral strategic relations over the next decade, and the completion of a defence industrial roadmap.

Alex Zino, Executive Vice-President (Business Development & Future Programs for UK & International Markets) and Global Head of Government Relations at Rolls-Royce, spoke with Business Standard about how these developments would help the British aerospace and defence giant scale up its operations in India.

Zino also confirmed the company is still actively pursuing engine collaboration with India under the UK’s defence partnership offer, which was announced at Aero India 2025.

Alex Zino reveals Rolls-Royce plans in India

Zino said the project is not only for delivering a next-gen engine, but for allowing India’s long-term independence in gas turbine technology.

“We’re not just bringing technology or design and development capability to India,” he remarked. “We’re offering new ways of doing it, faster and to tighter time scales than historically expected.”

He added that Rolls-Royce, which has experience in the sixth-generation Tempest fighter jet programme, is prepared to “codesign and codevelop the engine in India, for India,” with full transfer of engine “knowhow and knowwhy.”

He said, “The aim is to stand up an ecosystem that supports future programmes and evolving requirements for India over time, but a specific programme like AMCA is needed to trigger that transfer.”

Zino further disclosed that the company is awaiting a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Indian government. “There are varying views on what the engine should be, its size, role, and performance, but it’s for the customer to define that. We stand ready to respond.”

He also pointed to the recently signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK as a key step forward for the aerospace sector. “There are provisions related to trade in commercial aerospace and the gradual reduction of tariffs, aligned with the WTO’s goal of zero tariffs in aerospace, which will benefit both the UK and India.”

Zino claims this will allow existing partnerships with Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo, and support component movement and supply chain growth.

Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engines are anticipated to enter India as these carriers expand their fleets.

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