Kaveri & Aero-Engine: News & Discussion

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/hukum2082/status/1946219658862051507 ---> On the @SAFRAN engine deal, the offer from Rolls Royce in terms of IPR and joint development terms was frankly mouthwatering. Perhaps we had the Australians on the backs of our minds and what the Brits did to them with the AUKUS submarine deal. The French were also once bitten twice shy and did not want to lose out on our dollars, to further develop the M88 stack. To be fair to them, despite the premium prices they have been extremely reliable as security partner. The ALH-LUH-IMRH totally rides on SAFRAN power packs. We did well by fanning the @RollsRoyce news to crack a fairly good deal with the French. As Henry M Paulson (US Treasury Secretary) once said, “The British …they do a lot of talking but never close.”

[Rakesh]

A good timeline has been provided in the article...

India–France Jet Engine Pact Nears Takeoff
https://chakranewz.com/defence-and-aero ... rs-takeoff
19 July 2025

[Rakesh]

This article is from 2022 and is with regards to Safran's development of their next gen turbofan for their FCAS (Rafale replacement) program.

https://x.com/ShiroBarks/status/1947213768116846962 ---> France’s DGA tested a prototype SCAF engine based on the M88 using Thermocolor to map turbine temps up to 2,100K. 250K higher than the M88’s TET. Safran, ONERA & the DGA are developing new alloys for turbine.

France completes first engine test for its 6th generation fighter
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/2995 ... -fcas-test
13 January 2022

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Tej_Intel/status/1947569158440251402 ---->
• Limited defence trade and relationship
• Minimum presence of British OEMs vis-a-vis French
• Intense lobbying and penetration of France in strategic decision making
• Trust deficit with Britain
• Ambiguity over restrictions and control

All this and other reasons led to Safran over Rolls Royce

[Rakesh]

How India will build its own Jet Engine

India dreams of 5th-generation fighters like the AMCA, but still relies on foreign engines. In this episode of The Sandeep Unnithan Show, Saurav Jha, Founder of the Delhi Defence Review, breaks down the engine crisis holding back India’s airpower. Why did the Kaveri project stall? Can India catch up with China’s jet engine mastery? And is engine self-reliance now a matter of national sovereignty? From test beds to international collaboration, we discuss what it’ll take for India to truly fly on its own power.

[bala]

As India grows and becomes truly #3 soon, the dynamics of high tech products becomes critical, which shows you are really #3 or higher. For this to happen, the Govt has to increase investments in the high tech area. No private companies will fund this effort. In the US the funding goes towards private defence behemoths albeit in firm control with the US Govt, in India these R&D centers are with the govt. mostly. India has to 10 x the current budget for R&D and these moneys will be well worth the investment. Isro, DRDO, BARC, aerospace sector, HAL, academia (IITs, REC, Eng colleges) have to be funded on high tech goals, some require multiple redundant centers of R&D. The gamut spans everything, since leadership implies having fully indigenous capability which allows a nation to dictate terms and conditions for others. Without this crucial funding and investment your position in the world is on shaky terms and you will be knocked of your perch or invaded.

The next effort for the Govt is to bolster the supply chain for production and manufacturing clout. This has to be done for all the high tech stuff that is being created. Without production this will be an achilles heel in case of conflicts. Production requires many ancilliary industries, testing, certification, quality control and much more.

[Rakesh]

Indian firm sets up titanium, superalloy plants to meet global need. Safran, Dassault, BAE line up
https://theprint.in/defence/indian-firm ... p/2699217/
23 July 2025

PTC Industries is investing Rs 1,000 cr in 4 manufacturing plants in UP, has already started supplying titanium parts to BAE Systems for its M-777 howitzers that India also uses.

[Rakesh]

Godrej’s Aerospace unit signs manufacturing contract with Pratt & Whitney
https://manufacturing.economictimes.ind ... /122878219
24 July 2025

The agreement covers the production of complex aerospace components for use in aircraft engine applications.

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1948351723892002908 ---> Big Win for Indian Aerospace! Godrej Aerospace, a Tier-1 supplier to global giants like GE, Boeing & Rolls-Royce, has secured a contract from Pratt & Whitney to manufacture complex aircraft engine components. A leap forward in engine tech & global supply chain integration.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1948349629126279411 ---> Rolls-Royce and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) are considering a significant expansion of their JV, International Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt Limited (IAMPL), in Tamil Nadu. The companies are exploring the possibility of establishing four to five new manufacturing units in Hosur and other locations in the state. IAMPL manufactures complex components for the global supply chain, serving both civil and defence aero-engine markets. Currently, around 200 engineers work on producing high-precision, quality products, which are exported to the UK and Germany.

[Rakesh]

Fighter Jet का इंजन किसकी गलती से नहीं बना पाया भारत? Kaveri से AMCA तक की कहानी

नवभारत टाइम्स की खास सीरीज "Border-Defence" में आज हम बात कर रहे हैं भारत के लड़ाकू विमान के इंजन बनाने की रेस में पिछड़ने की। फाइटर जेट इंजन टेक्नोलॉजी की। क्या आपने कभी सोचा है कि भारत तेजस बना सकता है लेकिन उसका इंजन क्यों नहीं बना पाया? भारत रॉकेट बना चुका है, हाइपरसोनिक मिसाइल बनाने की कगार पर है, परमाणु बम बना चुका है, फिर भी लड़ाकू विमान का इंजन क्यों नहीं बना पाया? दिल्ली डिफेंस रिव्यू के डायरेक्टर सौरव झा, जो डिफेंस टेक्नोलॉजी के एक्सपर्ट हैं, उनके साथ NBT के इंटरनेशनल अफेयर्स जर्नलिस्ट अभिजात शेखर आजाद ने लड़ाकू विमानों के इंजन पर बात की है। जिसमें उन्होंने फाइटर जेट इंजन बनाना इतना मुश्किल क्यों है? Kaveri इंजन की नाकामी — तकनीकी या राजनीतिक? AMCA और GE-414 डील — क्या अब सब बदलेगा?, जैसे सवालों के जवाब दिए हैं

[chetak]

This is not verified but several you tube channels are carrying this news.


Japan offers IHI XF9–1 6th generation engine for India's AMCA ...

US, UK, France Shocked! Japan Offers Huge 200 Kn Engine for AMCA! Invites GTRE for Secret Review

Japan surprises the world as it offers a powerful 200 kN engine for India's 5th-gen stealth fighter AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft)! This game-changing move shocks the US, UK, and France, who were also eyeing India's AMCA deal. GTRE (Gas Turbine Research Establishment) has been secretly invited to review this next-gen engine technology developed by Japan for fighter jets.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ojTkSgIi ... ture=share

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ojTkSgIiNsg

[Rakesh]

^^^ I am going to stick my neck out and state that is fake news. I have seen this before.

[Cybaru]

Sourav Jha mentioned this in passing at the end of the interview with Sandeep Unninathan.

[Rakesh]

Putting my neck back

[Cybaru]

if thats on offer - we should look at that and double down and invest in a much bigger engine than the 120KN. Even if we can't use it right away as we have too many programs on the book.

I hope we can get a derated 100KN engine for Tejas Mk2 out of the Safran effort as well. Although the timelines dont match, it's good to have a backup and build our R&D/Industrial base.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/delhidefence/status/1948689492841562305 ---> NEWS: Flight worthy Kaveri Dry Engine Development with the cost of Rs 472.42 crore and Technology Demonstration of Kaveri Derivative 'Dry' Engine with the cost of Rs 251.17 crore have been sanctioned.

DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS DEFENCE TECHNOLOGIES
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage ... ID=2148337
25 July 2025

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/AjayshreeSamby3/status/19 ... 9062405496 ---> Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE) is the power plant for the remotely piloted strike aircraft (IUCAV aircraft). In this regard two projects have been sanctioned namely:

Flight worthy Kaveri Dry Engine Development with the cost of Rs 472.42 crore.

Technology Demonstration of Kaveri Derivative 'Dry' Engine with the cost of Rs 251.17 crore.

[bala]

I found this YT walking through the various steps in creating hot section turbine blades for the LEAP engine at SAFRAN. There are so many meticulous steps with blades casting as a group. The mold for casting is designed to create four parts. The various steps require so many engineering processes and some practical know how. Tooling technology and materials science are the key. Many materials used are closely guarded secrets. Every step is inspected some with very high tech machines before proceeding to the next. The intensity of the step complexity and its precise detail are quite a treat to watch. Successful production of turbine blades depends on so many factors.

The birth of a turbine blade | Safran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tM96B77n0U

// maybe Maitya ji can comment and also where India stands on the various steps towards turbine production.

[drnayar]

I found this YT walking through the various steps in creating hot section turbine blades for the LEAP engine at SAFRAN. There are so many meticulous steps with blades casting as a group. The mold for casting is designed to create four parts. The various steps require so many engineering processes and some practical know how. Tooling technology and materials science are the key. Many materials used are closely guarded secrets. Every step is inspected some with very high tech machines before proceeding to the next. The intensity of the step complexity and its precise detail are quite a treat to watch. Successful production of turbine blades depends on so many factors.

The birth of a turbine blade | Safran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tM96B77n0U

// maybe Maitya ji can comment and also where India stands on the various steps towards turbine production.

i was comparing the complexity with the 80s technology as here : https://youtu.be/zCAR4wPrwrg . Remarkable !!

[ritesh]

Shiv's take on Kaveri and ityadi Vayusena issues.