Indigenous Diesel Engines: Update & Discussions
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Rolls-Royce seeks MoD nod to build Arjun MBT and future combat vehicle engines in India
In a major push toward localising core defence propulsion systems, Rolls-Royce has partnered with two defence PSUs and is awaiting Ministry of Defence (MoD) clearances to begin manufacturing engines for the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBDT) as well as for the light tank, the future infantry combat vehicle (FICV), the future ready combat vehicle (FRCV) and heavy motor vehicles (HMVs).
Simultaneously, the company is advancing plans to localise its high-end Series 4000 naval engines, for which it has already identified a domestic partner for future projects of Indian Navy.
These developments emerged during businessline’s exclusive interaction with Giovanni Spadaro, President, Global Markets, Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Managing Director, Rolls-Royce Solutions Asia, along with G. S. Selwyn, Executive Vice President, Rolls-Royce India and Managing Director, MTU India.
The initiatives mark a significant shift in Rolls-Royce’s defence business strategy—from a source-and-sell approach to a deep localisation model. This reorientation is designed to capitalise on India’s rapidly expanding defence market and to align with the government’s aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) agenda by producing key propulsion systems for land and naval platforms within the country.
“There are two different defence PSU partners—one for the Arjun tank engines and the other for the Series 199 family of engines,” Spadaro said, joining the conversation virtually from Singapore. “For Arjun, it’s the MB838, while the Series 199 (S199) is meant for a range of platforms, starting with the light tank, FICV, FRCV and HMV, with multiple cylinder variants from 450 horsepower to 1,500 horsepower.”
According to the company, they are in talks with private players like L&T, which has already got first orders for manufacturing of light tank Zorawar, Tata and Mahindra, offering them their S199 family of engines. But, the selection of engine by the MoD will come through prescribed procurement process.
According to Selwyn, the S199 family will offer multiple configurations—six-cylinder, eight-cylinder, and potentially ten-cylinder variants—providing a flexible suite of engine options for diverse military requirements.
Since its induction into the Indian Army, the Arjun MBT has been powered by MB838 engines built by MTU, a Rolls-Royce Power Systems subsidiary. The four-stroke engine delivers 1,400 HP. Rolls-Royce Power Systems is now offering to manufacture it in India, with Spadaro emphasising that the company is proposing a “full transfer” of technology, including intellectual property transfer. If the project is awarded, the Indian partner will gain the capability to manufacture engineering parts locally, eliminating the need for global sourcing and enabling complete indigenous assembly of the tank engine.
Spadaro, however, wondered: whether the domestic ecosystem has the capacity to manufacture specialised components in the required quantities.
For the S199 engines—already deployed in top-tier global programmes such as the UK’s Boxer, the US Army’s M10 Booker, and platforms in Germany and Israel—localisation will initially stand at 27–30 percent. Spadaro noted that the initiative goes beyond technology transfer. “It’s about capabilities too,” he said, indicating that Indian manufacturers will need to meet demanding global standards.
Under the “Buy (Indian-IDDM)” procurement category, the government prioritises defence systems that are indigenously designed, developed and manufactured, with a minimum of 50 percent local content—a benchmark Rolls-Royce will ultimately be expected to match.
Spadaro declined to speculate on when the MoD approval might come, but stressed readiness on the company’s part. “What’s important is to understand that we have both the readiness and the capability, and the right partnerships in-country for us to progress as and when the MoD decides to move forward.”
When asked why Rolls-Royce chose PSUs—despite many foreign OEMs being cautious about such partnerships—Selwyn said the company carried out a detailed evaluation. “We found them progressive and interesting because of the position they wield and their local capabilities,” he said.
Selwyn also highlighted Rolls-Royce’s long-standing presence in India’s defence ecosystem, with over 1,400 Rolls-Royce engines powering Indian military aircraft, the Arjun tank fleet and numerous naval and Coast Guard vessels. “Power Systems alone has about 650 engines across naval ships, Coast Guard ships and the Arjun MBT. In naval platforms, for example, we power the generators of P-17 Alpha frigates and propel the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts. We also propel Coast Guard vessels—so much so that more than 70 percent of Coast Guard vessels are powered by MTU engines,” he said.
Beyond defence, Rolls-Royce’s civilian footprint in India—built over nine decades—is also widening. The company has already relocated a complete production line for the Series 1600 reciprocating engine to India. This line, operated through a joint venture with Force Motors in Pune, manufactures engines for power generation and rail powerpacks.
Rolls-Royce engines are also providing power backup to key national infrastructure such as Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3 and the Yashobhoomi International Convention Centre.
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This is the engine that is on offer by MTU, MB838, for the Tank Arjun:
I had another schematic. Could not find it.
S199 family of engines that is on offer for light tank, FICV, FRCV and HMV.
Source: Article provided above.
www.mtu-solutions.com
I had another schematic. Could not find it.
S199 family of engines that is on offer for light tank, FICV, FRCV and HMV.
Source: Article provided above.
Series 199 engine family
Explore the mtu Series 199: a robust diesel propulsion system engineered for military land vehicles — offering fuel efficiency, low operating costs, compact design, and cutting-edge reliability.
www.mtu-solutions.com
So the trend of generous offerings by the west when India's on the verge of developing its own equipment continues.This is the engine that is on offer by MTU, MB838, for the Tank Arjun:
View attachment 48027
I had another schematic. Could not find it.
View attachment 48028
S199 family of engines that is on offer for light tank, FICV, FRCV and HMV.
Source: Article provided above.
Series 199 engine family
Explore the mtu Series 199: a robust diesel propulsion system engineered for military land vehicles — offering fuel efficiency, low operating costs, compact design, and cutting-edge reliability.
Hopefully GoI isn't stupid enough to bite but then this is the GoI we're talking about.
Ideally we offer no commitments for our indigenous programs but invite them to set up shop here with a view to mfg for export.
So after refusing to deliver engines for light tank they are now offering us local production to derail our indigenous efforts.
We must show them middle finger.
I have zero hopes from corrupt babus they will definitely derail local efforts just to get visas for their nazayaz aulads.
We are the export market they have in mind. They're banking on us to place a sizeable order as few other forces offer the scale that we do. Unlikely they we will setup a local line w/o confirmation from the MoD and MEA that they will see this deal done for the IA. From the previous cases, they will lobby actively and try to get the IA to switch to the variants that they have on offer.
They are merely offering local production of the engine which Arjun already uses. The very engine whose shortage has derailed the Mk.1A production run by the way, because we ordered too late.
We dont use EuroPowerPack right? We use an older version as Germans didnt allow us then.
We should re-engine both versions of arjun with EuroPowerpack. That will be fastest and more sustainable.
It's a U-shape config, you'd have to modify it in a T and then test it. Basically what it is being done with CV1500A/DATRAN-1500, except it's Indian.
The least time taking option is ofcourse the old 838. I don't think anyone here wants Arjuns being delivered in 2030s.
So we will have to live with the older engine till Indian engine comes of age.
They already ran both configurations of DATRAN-1500?
Well we know that the transmission and engine exist (the original U-shape pp) but idk if they are still to be coupled or not. The CV1500A and it's transmission are a new development. Also there was something about developing a test chassis for a 1500 hp transmission.
Not exactly . Companies who're outsourcing mfg think or in any case have to think decades ahead especially defence contactors.
Moreover this has to be coordinated & percentage of localisation graduated. Typically depending on the sophistication of the tech employed as in this case I'd say it'd take upto a decade should they choose India to be a hub for mfg .
It's a finely tuned system of checks & balances to ensure the country of mfg has not just the industrial depth but the sophistication to maintain quality standards.
Of course it goes without saying that the most critical tech would be retained in house even if upto 80% of the other items are localised.
The UK like most of the west is facing declining TFRs & mostly have extremely high standards of living which translates to higher costs.
They lack the money power of the US which in any case exports inflation courtesy the USD being the reserve currency of the world.
Given these two drawbacks with a falling economy , it's impossible for the UK to sustain a domestic defence ecosystem thru subsidies over an extended period of time. Hence the need to off shore / friend shore.
From the PoV of the UK where could they base such an industry ? They can't go to a Poland or a Bulgaria for the cost differential isn't much . Ideally they'd prefer Australia which both the US & UK are propping up in any case vis a vis defence ties , co design , co development & mfg . However there are limitations to this move .
They could go to Latin America but most countries there have a falling TFR too . Besides life in Latin America is more settled . As of now there are no wars being waged there nor are there any disputes which are likely to break out into wars in the mid to long term future.
Africa is ruled out . Which brings us to Asia. The Gulf is ruled out for the same reason as Africa is . Lack of talent , human capital , industrial depth , trust factors etc.
SEA ? More or less similar problems as above. China's ruled out . Japan & RoK have / will turn into competitors. So where do you go ?
That's where we should put our foot down . There are some offers which can be likened to sweet poison. This is one of them .
The IDDM is a good tool provided we use it as a scalpel not as a catchall. Trust the MoD understands the difference between the two.
I do agree that bringing the mfg to India would be a smart move for RR. However, imo, India would also have to provide a certain set of incentives to them. One of them being buying their engines for the Light Tank as well as Arjun. If I was the OEM, I would definitely push for this as it would ensure that a ready made customer would be available for the local line. There are plenty of folks here, present within the MoD, who would be happy to 'guide' them. That's the only aspect that I would add to your argument.
Mostly in agreement with the rest of your analysis. But this! I don't believe that even you really trust MoD to do the optimum thing
As long as UK remains an untrustworthy partner , we can't risk relying on them especially when we've developed an alternative. That's not how you build strategic depth.
And the UK like the US will remain untrusted partners good enough only for tactical alignments not strategic ones. In this respect the French are slightly better even though they've a mercenary attitude & have been known to renege on commitments . The Scorpene project is a good example in this regard.
I can also offer a counter argument. We've been hunting for a power pack for the Arjun since long . Why weren't any of those countries which had developed such power packs ever interested in partnering with us then ? Why now ?
Agreed. However we don't have much to gain by patronising UK in this field . We could partner them in such ventures as far as propulsion system for our Naval ships go which we are . We could also deepen these partnerships .
Each of these OEMs behaves as any merchant would. As you are buying my stuff for the IN, have a look at my offering for IA. DATRAN is still some time away. I am not so clear on the development of the engine for the Light Tank (Zorawar). It should not come into production anytime before the end of the decade. Someone following the CVRDE news should be able to present the latest timeline that they might have announced.
Quite the hole that the MoD has dug. There are 2 separate engines that the CVRDE is working on 600cc and 800cc. The 800cc is supposed to put into the light tank. There is talk that the order will be split - Lot1 will have Cummins and Lot2 will carry the DRDO developed engine. RR has thrown its hat into the ring and tried to get that business.
This means RR doesn't fancy its chances of winning the 120KN TF engine project against Safran. They are looking for other avenues because the MT-30 IEPS prog, where they the sole contenders, is also taking a long time to fructify.
They are throwing things at the wall and hoping something will stick.
This entire affair with the Powerpacks shows how unstrategic the babudom happens to be. These should have been a priority post the govt. coming to power in 2019. There has been a steady build up by the PLA along the IB for a significant period of time and the MoD could have taken a call and gone all in.
As @RandomGoober stated, the induction of the tanks will only happen in the 2030s if they are powered by the CVRDE engines.
As @RandomGoober stated, the induction of the tanks will only happen in the 2030s if they are powered by the CVRDE engines.
You catch my drift. This will be an attempt to steal the food from Cummins mouth. It is their engine that is powering the Light Tank for now. The 800
Correction to HP. 600HP and 800 HP. I was viewing the new Kawasaki lineup on a different tab and misquoted the figures.
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