SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) has taken a significant step forward in its Kaveri engine program, initiating procurement of critical materials for a demonstration of the Dry Kaveri engine mated with an advanced afterburner section. This effort aims to demonstrate a fully functional engine capable of generating up to 80 kN of thrust, marking a considerable increase from previous test results and positioning the engine as a potential power plant for both indigenous and foreign aircraft platforms.
The Dry Kaveri engine, initially targeted to produce around 46 kN of thrust, has recently achieved up to 49-50 kN in ground trials. With the integration of a new afterburner section, GTRE expects the engine to produce 80 kN of thrust, an increase from the 73 kN it achieved in earlier demonstrations. This performance upgrade is vital to fulfilling the operational requirements of modern fighter jets, including the possibility of powering India’s indigenous platforms like the Tejas Mk1A in single-engine configurations.
To validate the Dry Kaveri engine’s capabilities, GTRE has initiated discussions with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) to conduct flight tests using an IAF MiG-29. This twin-engine platform provides an ideal testbed, enabling GTRE to assess the Kaveri engine’s performance alongside the RD-33 engine, the MiG-29’s standard powerplant. Testing on the MiG-29 will allow the Kaveri engine to undergo rigorous evaluations in real flight conditions, ensuring the engine can endure operational stresses before being certified for single-engine fighter operations.
By testing on a twin-engine platform, GTRE can evaluate the engine’s reliability and performance under various scenarios while having a backup engine for safety. The successful integration and testing of the MiG-29 will be a critical milestone, laying the groundwork for certification and potentially opening doors for the Kaveri engine’s use in a range of indigenous fighter jets.
GTRE officials have indicated that the Dry Kaveri engine program is on track to achieve final certification by 2032. The development timeline involves a series of ground and flight trials aimed at refining engine performance and resolving outstanding technical challenges. The fresh batches of Dry Kaveri engines incorporate advanced technologies and engineering solutions that address earlier issues with the core engine design, signalling substantial progress in the program.
In the upcoming phases, GTRE will conduct extensive ground tests to fine-tune the engine’s performance and durability. This step-by-step approach is designed to build confidence in the engine’s reliability before it is deployed in airborne tests.
Once certified, the Dry Kaveri engine could power future variants of the Tejas Mk1A and potentially even advanced fighter platforms like the A Ghtaak UCAV. An indigenous engine also presents potential export opportunities, aligning with India’s broader goals of becoming a global defence supplier.
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