SOURCE: AFI
India’s ambition to become a significant player in the global defence export market hinges on achieving self-reliance in critical technologies, particularly in aero-engines. Defence analyst Ranesh Rajan, in an interview with AFI, emphasized that for the Indian government to prioritize exports of its indigenous fighter jets, such as the Tejas Mk1A and MkII, it must urgently fund the Kaveri 2.0 engine program. This move, Rajan argues, would free India from the constraints imposed by foreign suppliers, notably the United States, which currently holds veto power over international sales of these aircraft due to their reliance on General Electric (GE)-supplied engines.
The Tejas Mk1A, powered by the GE F404 engine, and the forthcoming Tejas MkII, expected to use the more powerful GE F414 engine, are central to India’s defence aviation strategy. However, the dependence on American engines limits India’s ability to independently market these jets globally. The U.S. administration can impose restrictions or block exports to certain countries due to geopolitical considerations, as the engines are subject to U.S. export control regulations. This vulnerability undermines India’s strategic autonomy and its ability to compete in the international defence market, where demand for cost-effective, multi-role fighters like the Tejas is growing.
The Kaveri 2.0 program, an advanced iteration of the Gas Turbine Research Establishment’s (GTRE) indigenous Kaveri engine, aims to deliver a high-thrust, reliable powerplant suitable for both the Tejas Mk1A and MkII. Rajan underscores that a fully indigenous engine would eliminate foreign dependencies, enabling India to negotiate export deals without external vetoes. Moreover, a domestically developed engine would enhance the Tejas’ appeal in the global market by showcasing India’s technological prowess and ensuring greater flexibility in maintenance and support agreements.
Despite decades of development, the original Kaveri engine faced challenges, including insufficient thrust and technical setbacks, leading to its exclusion from the Tejas program. However, the Kaveri 2.0 initiative, backed by renewed focus and international collaboration (such as with France’s Safran), aims to overcome these hurdles. Rajan argues that substantial government funding is critical to accelerate the program, refine the engine’s performance, and integrate it into the Tejas variants. Such investment would not only bolster export prospects but also strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem, fostering innovation and self-reliance.
The global market for lightweight, multi-role fighters is competitive, with countries like South Korea (KF-21 Boramae) and Turkey (TF-X) vying for a share. For India, the Tejas represents a strategic opportunity to capture markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where cost-effective platforms are in demand. However, without an indigenous engine, India risks being sidelined by geopolitical constraints imposed by the U.S. Rajan’s call for funding Kaveri 2.0 is a clarion call for the Indian government to prioritize this program, ensuring that the Tejas can soar freely in the international market, unhindered by foreign dependencies.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.