What French engine maker Safran can offer to AMCA program?
AMCA roll-out in 3/3.5yrs after funding approval
Recently, we have discussed about India’s 5th generation fighter jet program AMCA and now there is a report coming out from News-18 for the AMCA program which we will be analyzing in detail.
If you read that report, there are few key pointers related to the program development. The funding approval for the AMCA program from CCS is expected any day. We have already discussed on this, the requirement is of Rs 15,000 crore for the development, testing and certification of 5 prototypes of AMCA. Another important point which was mentioned is that the fighter jets PDR is complete.
AMCA Engine
The AMCA project director also said that the AMCA Mk1 will fly on the existing 90kN class engine (GE 414 engines from the US) and AMCA Mk2 will be powered by a stronger engine to be developed indigenously by GTRE in partnership with a foreign player. Talks between India and France to conclude a deal for jointly developing a 125kN engine for the AMCA are at an advanced stage.
French Snecma Engine Variants
As we all are aware that the Snecma M88 is a French afterburning turbofan engine developed by Safran Aircraft Engines for the Dassault Rafale fighter jet. The M88 develops 73 kN/ 16,500 pounds of thrust with afterburner. There are different variants of M88 engines for different types of fighter jet:
· M88-2 : This engine produces 50 kN of dry thrust & 75 kN with afterburners. 2 engines of this variant are used in Rafale fighter jets.
· M88-3 : This engine produces 93 kN of thrust with afterburner. It is developed for a single-engine light combat aircraft.
· M88-4 : This engine produces 105 kN of thrust with afterburner. It is developed for medium-weight single-engine fighter jet.
What Safran could offer GTRE?
Now, it is highly likely that France engine maker Safran may offer M88-4 engines or its variant to India as its close to AMCA thrust requirement but still under power. Safran and GTRE may work on the scaled-up version of this engine to be able to generate thrust close to 125 kN which is almost 20% increase in the output of the M88-4 engine and won’t be an easy task. At the same time, they must ensure that its compact in size or else AMCA Mark-2 will have to undergo structural changes. ADA & GTRE will have to plan ahead for these upcoming challenges.
Safran is also working on engine development as a part of 6th generation fighter jet program called Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program aimed to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet for Europe. France, Germany & Spain are jointly working on development along with Airbus. The fighter jet will have much higher thrust requirement when compared with existing fighters like Rafale.
Higher thrust means higher temperature will be experienced inside the engine core and fan blades. The temperature can reach as high as 1827 degree Celsius at the turbine jet inlet which is 250 degrees more than what is experienced by M-88 engines. The metal alloys present in the M-88 engines cannot sustain such high temperature. To achieve this French General Directorate of Armaments (DGA), French national aerospace research center ONERA and Safran are working on accelerating the development of “new metal alloys and multilayer systems for high-temperature applications on turbine blades and disks”.
Conclusion
So, by now you would have understood that Safran is working on a higher thrust derivate of M-88 engines, but will it share the technology of the same with India is not clear at the moment. Infact, there is no clarity on how India and France are going to commence the engine development if both party enters into the agreement. The discussion would have happened between the authorities of both the countries regarding this, but the information is not there in public domain.
As far as AMCA program is concerned the AMCA Mark-1 will be able to meet its timeline as it does not have engine challenge but the future of AMCA Mark-2 program is dependent on indigenous engine.
==========WHOMSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN=============
Most of the pictures clip or BGM included in the Video
Belongs to their Respected Owners and we do not claim rights.
We are using them under following act:
=================DISCLAIMER=======================
UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1976, ALLOWANCE IS MADE FOR "FAIR USE" FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM,
COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING, SCHOLARSHIP, AND RESEARCH. FAIR USE IS A USE PERMITTED BY COPYRIGHT STATUTE THAT MIGHT
OTHERWISE BE INFRINGING. NON-PROFIT, EDUCATIONAL OR PERSONAL USE TIPS THE BALANCE IN FAVOR OF FAIR USE.
Follow us on social media:
/ analysisdefense
https://indiandefenseanalysisofficial...
/ indian-defense-analysis-115230683684126
==============THANKS FOR WATCHING!================
PLEASE LIKE SHARE & SUBSCRIBE: "INDIAN DEFENSE ANALYSIS"
Music: Eternal Garden - Dan Henig