The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced that the Kaveri engine, developed by its Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), has been approved for inflight testing. The decision marks a step forward in India’s efforts to achieve greater independence in aerospace technology.
Originally designed for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Kaveri engine faced technical challenges and was ultimately decertified for that application. Subsequent development efforts focused on creating a dry variant tailored for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). After extensive ground tests and high-altitude simulations conducted in Russia and India, the engine has been cleared for real-world flight evaluations.
The current dry variant of the engine delivers a thrust range of 49-51 kN, making it suitable for UAVs such as the Ghatak stealth UCAV. Future upgrades, including an afterburner, are expected to boost thrust levels to 73-75 kN, broadening its operational potential.
Upcoming tests will involve integrating the engine with a flying test bed to assess its performance in dynamic flight environments. These tests aim to confirm its reliability, endurance, and efficiency over extended operations while ensuring compatibility with aircraft systems.
Initiated in the late 1980s, the Kaveri project underscores India’s focus on reducing dependence on imported aerospace components. Plans for a future Kaveri 2.0 engine signal ongoing efforts to align the program with evolving defense and aerospace requirements.
This announcement was made by the DRDO on December 23, 2024.