Kaveri Engine

About Kaveri Engine:

• The Kaveri engine project began in the late 1980s with the goal of powering the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
• It is developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation. 
• Features
  •  The current dry version of the Kaveri engine produces approximately 49-51 kN of thrust.
  • This thrust level is suitable for UAV applications like the Ghatak, India’s stealth UCAV program. The DRDO plans to integrate an afterburner to increase the thrust to 73-75 kN for more demanding scenarios.
  • The Kaveri engine has undergone extensive ground testing, modifications, and enhancements over the years.
  • It has been tested in high-altitude simulations in Russia and ground trials in India. These tests demonstrated promising results in reliability, thrust output, and operational stability, meeting the required performance metrics for inflight testing.
• Significance: This signifies a major step for India’s self-reliance in aero-engine technology, particularly for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like the Ghatak stealth UCAV program.

Q1: What is the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)?

It is the R&D wing of Ministry of Defence, Govt of India, with a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems, while equipping our armed forces with state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment in accordance with requirements laid down by the three Services.

News: Kaveri engine approved for inflight testing: A breakthrough in Indian aerospace

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