French aerospace giant Safran has signaled readiness to produce the M88 fighter jet engines powering India’s Rafale fleet locally, contingent on India placing additional large Rafale orders. On November 25, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Safran’s largest Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for CFM Leap engines in Hyderabad, alongside the groundbreaking ceremony for the first-ever MRO dedicated to the M88 engine in India. Safran CEO Olivier Andries stated that if the Indian Air Force approves an additional batch of 114 Rafales under the Make in India initiative, Safran would commit to establishing a full assembly line for the M88 engines and critical components in India. This move will significantly boost India’s defense manufacturing autonomy and augment local sourcing to 500 million euros by 2030, with the MRO facility serving as a strategic maintenance hub for both India’s Rafale and export customers. Furthermore, Safran has agreed to a full technology transfer to co-develop a next-generation clean-sheet engine for India’s future AMCA fighter program, deepening Indo-French defense collaboration and reducing India’s reliance on foreign engine imports. These developments underscore India’s strategic emphasis on self-reliance in advanced fighter engine capabilities amid regional security dynamics.