PM Modi Meets Rolls-Royce CEO, India Expansion and Engine Deal Talks Advance

British engineering major Rolls-Royce has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand its presence in India following high-level discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and company CEO Tufan Erginbilgic , signalling a new phase in strategic cooperation across defence , aerospace , energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The talks focused on scaling up local operations, strengthening supply chains and positioning India as a global hub for high-technology production, underscoring the company’s intention to treat the country as a priority strategic market. Officials said the engagement reflects growing alignment between India’s push for technological self-reliance and Rolls-Royce’s long-term global manufacturing strategy.

A central highlight of the roadmap is Rolls-Royce’s proposal to jointly develop a next-generation fighter-jet engine for India’s AMCA programme . According to Erginbilgic, the company is prepared to offer full technology transfer and intellectual property rights as part of the collaboration — an uncommon arrangement that could significantly strengthen India’s indigenous aero-engine capability and reduce dependence on foreign propulsion systems.

The company is also evaluating major investments to expand engineering, design and manufacturing capacity in India. While no specific plant location or investment figure has been officially announced, Rolls-Royce has indicated plans to substantially increase local sourcing and workforce strength, potentially expanding its India employee base to around 10,000 over time. Proposed initiatives include dedicated design centres, advanced manufacturing facilities and capability hubs serving both domestic and global programmes.

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the expansion strategy and commended the company’s interest in partnering with Indian industry and talent, noting that such collaborations align with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of strengthening domestic technological capabilities. Currently, more than 4,000 professionals work within the Rolls-Royce ecosystem in India, including thousands of engineers contributing to international projects.

The firm already maintains partnerships with Indian companies such as HAL , Tata , Bharat Forge and Godrej , supplying engines and systems for multiple military platforms including Jaguar , Hawk aircraft and Arjun tanks . Strengthening these industrial linkages is expected to be central to future expansion.

Industry observers say that if ongoing discussions translate into formal agreements, the collaboration could mark a major milestone in India–UK strategic relations , accelerate domestic innovation and generate large-scale high-skill employment across the country.