SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a significant push toward self-reliance in aerospace technology, the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), a premier lab under India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has released an Expression of Interest (EoI) for a Development Contract focused on machining aero-engine turbine blades and vanes. Specifically, the contract involves High-Pressure Turbine (HPT) blades and vanes, utilizing customer-supplied Single Crystal Nickel Superalloy Castings, as announced on April 19, 2025, via posts on X.
DMRL has been at the forefront of developing advanced materials for India’s defence applications, particularly in aerospace. The lab has already established expertise in producing state-of-the-art Directionally Solidified (DS) and Single Crystal (SX) blades and vanes through vacuum investment casting—a process critical for aero gas turbine engines that demand high efficiency, thrust, and low fuel consumption. These components, made from advanced nickel-based superalloys, are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and stresses, making them essential for modern military aircraft and helicopters.
The EoI marks a strategic move to engage Indian industry in the precision machining of these critical components. Single-crystal technology, mastered by only a few nations like the USA, UK, France, and Russia, eliminates grain boundaries in the material, enhancing resistance to creep and fatigue at high temperatures. DMRL’s prior success in this domain includes supplying 60 single-crystal HPT blades to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 2021 for indigenous helicopter engine development, with plans to deliver a total of 300 blades across five sets.
The EoI invites capable industrial partners to undertake the machining of HPT blades and vanes using pre-supplied single-crystal nickel superalloy castings. This process requires advanced manufacturing techniques to achieve the complex geometry and stringent tolerances necessary for aero-engine performance. The blades and vanes are integral to gas turbine engines, such as those powering the Kaveri engine for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the Jet Fuel Starter (JFS) for Tejas, and the Adour engine for the Jaguar aircraft. DMRL has already transferred related casting technologies to HAL’s Koraput division, where production of JFS castings has commenced.
The machining contract is a critical step in the production chain, ensuring that cast components are finished to exact specifications for airworthiness and operational reliability. This initiative aligns with India’s “Make in India” vision, aiming to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers for high-tech aero-engine components while fostering domestic expertise.
India’s aerospace sector has long relied on imported engines and components, a dependency that poses strategic and economic challenges. The Kaveri engine program, intended to power the LCA Tejas, has faced delays partly due to technological hurdles in high-performance materials like single-crystal blades. By developing and now outsourcing the machining of such components, DMRL is not only advancing indigenous technology but also creating opportunities for Indian industries to contribute to national security.
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