SOURCE: AFI
In a significant advancement for India’s indigenous aerospace capabilities, the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced that the Kaveri engine has been cleared for inflight testing. This development marks a pivotal moment in the long journey of the Kaveri engine project, which has faced numerous challenges since its inception in the late 1980s.
Originally intended to power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the Kaveri engine faced multiple technical setbacks that led to its decertification for the Tejas project. However, the DRDO has persevered, focusing on the development of a dry version of the Kaveri engine, which is now slated for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like the Ghatak, India’s stealth UCAV program.
After years of ground testing, modifications, and enhancements, the latest iteration of the Kaveri engine has shown promising results in terms of reliability, thrust output, and operational stability. The engine has successfully undergone rigorous testing phases, including high-altitude simulations in Russia and extensive ground trials in India, aligning with the performance metrics required for inflight testing.
The Kaveri engine has now achieved a dry thrust of approximately 49-51 kN, which is suitable for UAV applications, with plans to integrate an afterburner to reach up to 73-75 kN for more demanding scenarios. The clearance for inflight testing comes after the engine passed a Safran audit in 2018, which indicated it had reached a maturity level sufficient for aircraft integration, albeit on a limited scale.
The next phase involves mounting the Kaveri engine on a flying test bed (FTB) for real-world performance evaluation. This step will include testing the engine’s response to various flight conditions, its integration with aircraft systems, and its overall reliability in dynamic environments:
This clearance is not just a technical achievement but also a strategic one, enhancing India’s path towards self-reliance in aero-engine technology. It signifies a reduction in dependence on foreign engine suppliers, which is critical for India’s defense strategy and its broader aerospace industry ambitions.
While this is a milestone, challenges remain. The engine must prove its endurance, efficiency, and adaptability over extended inflight tests. The DRDO and GTRE are committed to refining the Kaveri, with plans for a Kaveri 2.0 that could potentially match or exceed the thrust of engines currently in use by the Indian Air Force.