Breaking Down the News: India’s Struggles to Manufacture Its Own Jet Engine
India’s pursuit of an indigenous jet engine has been an ambitious but challenging endeavor. Despite decades of research and development, the country has struggled to produce a fully operational and combat-ready fighter jet engine. The difficulties stem from technological hurdles, lack of experience, material constraints, and reliance on foreign suppliers. While India has made significant progress, it remains dependent on international partnerships to power its fighter jets.
The GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri engine, developed under the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) of DRDO, is the most well-known attempt at producing an indigenous jet engine. Initially intended for the HAL Tejas, the project began in the 1980s but failed to meet the required performance specifications. The Kaveri engine struggled with thrust deficiencies, overweight design, excessive vibrations, and an underperforming afterburner. It was supposed to produce 90-95 kN of thrust, but it could only manage 75-80 kN, making it unsuitable for supersonic combat aircraft. As a result, India had to opt for the GE F404 engine from the United States for Tejas Mk1 and later selected the GE F414 for Tejas Mk2.
One of the biggest challenges India faced in developing a fighter jet engine was the lack of high-temperature superalloys and single-crystal turbine blade technology. Fighter jet engines operate at extreme temperatures exceeding 1,600°C, requiring specialized materials that India initially lacked. Additionally, the country had no prior experience in developing an advanced military jet engine, unlike countries such as the United States, Russia, France, and the UK, which have been refining this technology for decades.
Despite these setbacks, India has not abandoned its goal of developing a domestically built jet engine. The dry variant of the Kaveri engine is now being repurposed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as the DRDO Ghatak stealth UCAV. India is also working on adapting Kaveri technology for marine propulsion to power naval vessels, reducing reliance on Russian and Western suppliers.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been making strides in aerospace engine development through its Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC). The organization has designed and tested several engines, including the Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine-25 (HTFE-25) and the Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine-1200 (HTSE-1200). These engines are targeted for trainers, UAVs, helicopters, and future light fighter jets. Additionally, HAL has collaborated with Safran Helicopter Engines of France to develop the Aravalli Engine for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter.
India has also turned to global partnerships to accelerate the development of an indigenous fighter jet engine. The country is in talks with General Electric (GE), Rolls-Royce, and Safran to co-develop an advanced 110 kN-class turbofan engine for its fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). While Rolls-Royce has offered a full transfer of intellectual property rights, Safran has proposed a joint-development program that would allow India to export co-developed engines. A decision on these collaborations is expected in 2025, which could mark a turning point in India’s aerospace self-reliance.
The Indian private sector has also started to contribute to jet engine development. Startups such as Prahari Aerospace are working on indigenous engine designs to strengthen the country’s technological independence. These initiatives, combined with government-backed research, suggest that India is steadily building a foundation for future advancements in fighter jet engine technology.
While India’s journey toward indigenous jet engine production has been long and fraught with setbacks, the country has gained valuable expertise and is positioning itself for future breakthroughs. With continued investments, strategic collaborations, and a focus on high-tech manufacturing, India may eventually overcome the challenges that have held back its aerospace ambitions.
