Kaveri Engine

Table of Contents☰

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