India’s New Dry Kaveri Engine Set for Russian Flight Trials in 2025

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

In a significant advancement for India’s aerospace sector, the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) is poised to receive a new variant of the Kaveri engine, the ‘Dry Kaveri’, manufactured by Godrej Aerospace, by February next year. This engine will undergo crucial in-flight trials using Russia’s IL-76 aircraft at Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI), Moscow, Russia. , a step towards its eventual integration into the Ghataak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) program.

The Dry Kaveri engine, a derivative of the original Kaveri project, is designed to produce 48 kN of thrust without an afterburner. This specification marks a departure from earlier versions, focusing on powering unmanned platforms where the complexity and weight of an afterburner are unnecessary. Godrej Aerospace, after securing an order in September 2022 to manufacture eight modules of this engine, has been at the forefront of this indigenous effort, showcasing India’s manufacturing capabilities in high-precision aerospace components.