 "The Kaveri engine was initially developed to power Tejas fighter aircraft. Image Courtesy: DRDO")
India is carrying out trials of the indigenous Kaveri jet engine in Russia. Reports on Tuesday (May 27) said that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was conducting the trials of the engine that could be used to power the long-range Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).
Initially planned for the fighter aircraft Tejas, the Kaveri engine will now power Made in India UCAVs. There has also been a renewed interest in the public about the homegrown engines in the wake of Operation Sindoor.
Let’s take a closer look.
What’s Kaveri engine?
The Kaveri engine is a low-bypass, twin-spool turbofan engine.
Developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the engine has 80 kilonewtons (kN) thrust.
The Kaveri project kick-started in the 1980s to power the domestic fighter aircraft Tejas.
The engine has a flat-rated design to minimise thrust drop due to high-speed and high-temperature conditions. “Twin lane full authority digital engine control with an adequate manual backup is a salient design feature of the Kaveri engine,” as per the DRDO.
From Tejas to Ghatak
The Kaveri engine could not be used for India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas due to various challenges, including the engine’s inability to reach the required thrust-to-weight ratio. There were also problems in high-temperature metallurgy and afterburner performance and reliability. International sanctions on India after the 1998 nuclear tests also hit the project.
After Kaveri failed to power Tejas Mk1, India had to resort to the American-made GE F404 engine for the fighter jet.
India also lacked testing facilities for such engines and had to rely on Russia, which led to scheduling delays and restricted flexibility, as per News18.
The project appeared to be abandoned by 2014. However, a collaboration with the French firm Safran in 2016 breathed life into the engines again.
The Kaveri engine has been repurposed for Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles, like the Ghatak stealth drone.
As per a EurAsian Times report, the latest Kaveri engines feature advanced materials, aerodynamics, and cooling technologies for enhanced performance. It is likely to generate 48 kN of dry thrust, while DRDO plans to incorporate an afterburner to raise thrust to 73–75 kN if needed.
The Kaveri core engine – Kabini – has a high-pressure compressor, combustor and high pressure turbine for “demonstrating hot end parts technology and study the aero-mechanical behaviour of high-pressure spool” of the engine, according to DRDO. It is classified as a fifth-generation engine.
Why Kaveri engine’s trials matter
India ’s premier defence research agency is conducting trials of the Kaveri engine in Russia, ANI reported, citing defence officials.
The trials will showcase the performance of the engine in real flight conditions, including its reliability, endurance, and integration with aircraft systems, as per Mathrubhumi.
About 25 hours of testing remained, with dependency on the slots provided by Russian authorities.
On whether the Kaveri engine will power the LCA, the officials told the news agency that it could be used to power an LCA aircraft to see its capabilities.
Recently, X users have been calling on the government to allocate more funds and resources for the Kaveri engine, with ‘Fund Kaveri Engine’ becoming the top trend on X Monday (May 26). This comes against the backdrop of India’s tensions with Pakistan post-Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack.
Last December, GTRE announced that the Kaveri engine had been cleared for in-flight testing. The development happened after rigorous testing of the engine, including high-altitude simulations in Russia.
The Kaveri engine is a big boost to India’s push for self-reliance in defence technology. It will reduce the country’s reliance on foreign engine suppliers and support its aerospace ambitions.
With inputs from agencies