From Tejas rejection to 5th-gen fighter jet hopes: Can Kaveri 2.0 finally deliver?
India is reviving its indigenous Kaveri jet engine project with a goal to develop sixth-generation fighter engines within seven years. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has pushed for this accelerated timeline to reduce reliance on imported propulsion systems for future combat aircraft.
Why it matters
Achieving self-reliance in aero-engine technology is a critical strategic goal for India to maintain its military aviation capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
NEW DELHI: Nearly 18 years after India's indigenous Kaveri jet engine was dropped from the Tejas fighter programme, the project is showing signs of a revival. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's call for DRDO scientists to develop sixth-generation fighter engines within the next five to seven years, recent successful afterburner tests of the Kaveri engine and the government's renewed push for self-reliance in military aviation have brought the long-delayed programme back into focus.While the original GTX-35VS Kaveri failed to meet the Indian Air Force's requirements for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the technologies developed over more than three decades are now expected to support future programmes such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the Ghatak stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle and marine gas turbines.The renewed focus comes as India continues to rely on imported General Electric engines for its frontline fighter fleet while pursuing an indigenous powerplant for next-generation…
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