SOURCE: AFI
On November 6, 2024, Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Secretary of the Department of Space, and Chairman of the Space Commission, delivered a speech highlighting India’s significant achievements in space technology. His speech, which has since gone viral, shed light on ISRO’s capabilities and indirectly highlighted a long-standing issue in India’s defense technology development: the reliance on imported engines, particularly for defense aircraft like the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
In a statement that resonated widely, Dr. Somanath remarked on the gap between ISRO’s achievements in developing indigenous engines for rockets and India’s dependence on imported jet engines for defense projects. “Light combat aircraft,” he noted, “even for that aircraft, the engine comes from outside. The engines are still not made in India, even aircraft engines.” He contrasted this with ISRO’s achievements, emphasizing, “But look at these rockets—all its engines have been designed, developed, manufactured, and tested in India. Is this a small thing? They are very powerful engines: liquid engines, solid engines, cryogenic engines, non-cryogenic engines, control engines, satellite engines—all our design, development, and manufacturing happens in this country.”
Dr. Somanath’s speech underscored ISRO’s expertise in developing a variety of rocket engines, from cryogenic and liquid-fuel engines to solid-fuel boosters, all designed, manufactured, and tested within India. This is an impressive feat in the space sector, where many countries rely on collaborations or imported components for engines, especially for advanced technologies like cryogenic engines. Through its rigorous engine development process, ISRO has carved a niche in global space exploration, making India one of the few countries with a comprehensive portfolio of indigenous rocket engines.
ISRO’s indigenous engines have successfully powered several of its prestigious missions, including the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), the lunar mission Chandrayaan series, and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. The development of such engines reflects ISRO’s ability to master complex propulsion technologies essential for sustained space exploration and mission success.
The mention of ISRO’s success in propulsion technology reignites discussions on the possibility of the organization contributing its expertise to the development of aircraft engines in India. For years, defense analysts and industry experts have called for ISRO’s participation in the development of jet engines for military aircraft, especially as the nation strives to reduce its dependence on imported technology in defense.
While Dr. Somanath’s comments were not an official bid for ISRO to enter jet engine development, they hinted at the organization’s capability to contribute to a field where India has historically lagged. The gap is most evident in programs like the LCA Tejas, which continues to rely on the American General Electric F404 and F414 engines. Despite decades of effort, India has not yet produced a jet engine that meets the rigorous standards required for high-performance military aircraft.
Dr. Somanath also pointed to ISRO’s development of the Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), also known as the Soorya, which aims to meet the future demands of both manned and heavy-lift missions. The NGLV is expected to feature cutting-edge engines that would further strengthen India’s standing in space technology. When complete, the Soorya family of rockets will place ISRO in an elite group of space organizations capable of launching large payloads to a variety of orbits, from geostationary to deep-space trajectories.
This latest push in rocket engine technology not only supports India’s space exploration goals but also demonstrates ISRO’s expertise in designing, testing, and manufacturing complex propulsion systems. The potential for ISRO to play a role in advancing India’s defense engine technology thus becomes evident, given the organization’s deep knowledge of engine design and its successful track record in propulsion.