British aerospace and engineering major Rolls-Royce has said it plans a major expansion in India, positioning the country as its third “home market” after the UK, the US and Germany. The company is exploring significant investments across jet engines, naval propulsion, land systems and advanced engineering, aligning with India’s growing defence and manufacturing ambitions.

In an interview, Rolls-Royce India Executive Vice President Sashi Mukundan said the company is planning a “big investment” that would be large enough to be clearly visible, though he declined to specify numbers. He stressed that the focus would be on building a complete ecosystem and value chain in India rather than merely setting up manufacturing facilities.

A key priority for Rolls-Royce is the development of a next-generation aero engine in India to power the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. Mukundan said the entire engine design work could be carried out in India, with technology transfer and joint ownership of new intellectual property, giving India long-term strategic control.

He also highlighted the company’s capability to adapt aero engine cores for naval use, including electric and hybrid propulsion for the Indian Navy. According to Mukundan, Rolls-Royce is among the few global engine makers capable of “marinising” aero engines at scale, making it viable to support both aerospace and naval propulsion through a shared supply chain in India.

Rolls-Royce is also set to firm up two memorandums of understanding with Indian defence public sector undertakings. One agreement will focus on manufacturing engines for Arjun tanks, while the other will cover engines for future ready combat vehicles.

Emphasising India’s importance, Mukundan said the country offers scale, policy clarity and a strong push for indigenous defence capability. He noted that India’s expanding industrial ecosystem and its growing global role make it a natural long-term partner.