Kaveri & Aero-Engine: News & Discussion

[uddu]

https://x.com/Varun55484761/status/1965036395241848979
@Varun55484761
For me,it looks like KDE + Afterburner. This may be Project Kaveri 2.0. Acc to certain reports, Kaveri 2.0 is an advanced variant of KDE. So Kaveri 2.0 and KDE+AB r different. There may be a chance that KDE+AB will integrate into LCA for testing

We need to wait for confirmation

RAA agint figured out the date
https://x.com/prudhvitej32/status/1965116424105623971
@prudhvitej32
This GTRE Kaveri + Afterburner image was clicked around 5 Th September , 2025

Observe saree design ( Pointed by Red arrow )

[uddu]

https://x.com/shiv_cybersurg/status/1965235831733723260
@shiv_cybersurg
KDE and KDE with afterburner compared

[maitya]

So it's final then ...
French Safran and DRDO combine to give India its first jet engine

... Safran-GTRE will develop nine prototypes of fighter engines within a time frame of 12 years. The engines will initially developed with 120 KN power but go up in capacity to 140 KN by the end of the 12 year time period.
...

[Khalsa]

12 Years !!

[drnayar]

12 Years !!

it does look like it wants to jump a couple of generations , the F135 is 125 KN dry without afterburner

[Rakesh]

12 Years !!

it does look like it wants to jump a couple of generations , the F135 is 125 KN dry without afterburner

That is how long it takes to develop a new turbofan.

[bala]

It is possible to hasten things when you have two entities involved. They can divvy up the work load and get to things quicker. Also the tools they have nowadays, including computer simulation can hasten things. There are the usual long poles like materials/alloys, which require a lot of test/analysis/trial & error iterations. Hopefully the expertize garnered by Dassault and GTRE should dissuade them from the wrong path. The 12 yrs is usual padding of time lines. It is imperative that time lines be hastened since the rest of the world is charging ahead.

[Cybaru]

I hope they help get Kaveri to where it is needed for LCA Mk1/A.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/SafranEngines/status/1966449688728461482 ---> Safran Aircraft Engines strengthens ties with the Indian aerospace sector by signing new agreements with @TitanTeal, @GodrejEntGroup and @AzadEngOfficial. These partnerships support the ramp-up of CFM LEAP and military programs, boosting the “Make in India” initiative.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/OsintUpdates/status/1966456995235459534 ---> India to sign a landmark defence deal with France to co-manufacture indigenous jet engines.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/chakranewz/status/1966522413195391288 ---> India embarked on a project to develop the Kaveri engine, but why did it give up, and was it the right decision? Admiral Raman Puri explains on Sandeep Unnithan Show.

[bala]

Quoting the above from Rakesh:

Why India Struggles with Indigenous Defence Tech:

Vice Admiral Raman Puri (Retd) examines the larger challenge of indigenisation—why past projects like the Kaveri engine stumbled, how dependence on Western suppliers persists, and why manpower and R&D bottlenecks threaten India’s strategic autonomy. From missed opportunities with Russia to the urgent need for young scientists and deeper investment in research, this discussion lays bare the choices India must make. Can the nation truly design and build its own critical defence systems—or will it remain tied to foreign technology for decades?

Watch from around 18:00 on Kaveri


// apparently the engine from China given to Russia for testing broke. However Kaveri did not but had issues.
// Admiral Raman Puri makes the point that from prototype to production is a different beast altogether.
// Repeatable process, tolerances etc have to be precise, otherwise the darn thing will not work.
// Remember for Mig21 engines (from my dad) that certain number of certain precise production steps were required, etc.
// Raman Puri is a must watch: he has a wealth of information. He talks about getting decent sized orders for Indian manufacturers, one example is WhaP which is languishing but used in Galwan, another on just 300 ATAGs. He wants the R&D budget hiked up like I do. He has a good grasp of operational needs vs prototype vs product. India must hire local talent and develop its own product - it is his mantra.

[bala]

Not quite Kaveri, but Godrej is involved in kaveri program.

Godrej bags 5 year Safran contract to supply LEAP engine components.

LEAP engine developed by CFM power aircraft like Airbus 320NEO and Boeing 737 MAX.

[uddu]

Video in the link.

VIDEO: https://x.com/DRDO_India/status/1967463225118847428 ---> Tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr. M. Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary. On the occasion of #EngineersDay2025, we salute the innovative spirit of our engineers whose brilliance fuels innovation, strengthens defence, and steers India towards self-reliance.

https://x.com/shreedharsingh9/status/19 ... 8389354663 ---> Kaveri engine with new afterburner.

[uddu]

DRDO Sparks New Hope for Kaveri Engine in Tejas Fighter
DRDO Sparks New Hope for Kaveri Engine in Tejas Fighter
The Kaveri engine, developed by India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), represents a major stride toward indigenous jet propulsion. Initially designed for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, the engine faced challenges in meeting thrust and weight requirements, leading to its delinking from the program. However, its evolution into the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE) has reignited interest. The KDE features a refined core and, in recent prototypes, an integrated afterburner capable of boosting thrust to nearly 80 kN—bringing it closer to operational fighter standards.

While the original dry Kaveri variant was repurposed for subsonic platforms, it found new life in powering the Ghatak UCAV, India’s stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle. The dry configuration, lacking an afterburner, suits the Ghatak’s stealth and endurance profile. Meanwhile, the KDE’s afterburning version is undergoing ground and flight testing, with older Tejas airframes reportedly used for validation.

GTRE continues to refine the engine’s bypass ratio, thermal efficiency, and material resilience, including efforts to master single-crystal turbine blade technology. With modular adaptability in mind, the Kaveri family could eventually serve a range of platforms—from drones to next-gen fighters—marking a quiet but determined push toward aerospace self-reliance.

[Cybaru]

Two key movements are happening.

One Kaveri seems to have come back to life, and there is some noise around it... I'm not sure if it will pan out, but it looks promising.

M88TREX - This changes the game completely!
- This secures Rafale in Indian conditions for hot and high perf,

- Works as an excellent backup for Mk1A (slightly more power and less range than Mk1A with 404), but won't make a material difference.

- Works as a terrible backup for Mk2 (Better performance than the jaguar for sure), but in combat T/W it should allow it to carry more load and still have more range than Mk1a, but worse performance, but will do - maybe Mk2 wont get made in numbers and we will continue to make more Mk1A

- Works as a reasonable replacement for 414 in AMCA.While the performance of the AMCA would be superior with 414, it is still a viable option that doesn't suffer significantly. The thrust-to-weight ratio ensures that the AMCATREX outperforms the Mk1 and Mk2 versions of the Tejas, as well as the MKI, which it is set to replace as a platform.

If the Safran deal goes through and we manage to secure 110/120/140 kW engines, then nothing like it. However, as the plan stands now, it propels us forward, even with the M88TREX engine. Some more small tweaking of the m88trex engine puts it at par with 414 and alleviates the above issues.

[nash]

Things which are coming on social media looks promising. If we assume that all goes well and we get viable flat rated 85-90 KN engine in next 3-5 years and Tejas-Mk2 still in testing or facing issue with engine delays then which one will be the better option Tejas-Mk2 with TRex or ORCA with Kaveri (85-90) or TRex.

In case of later take Tejas-Mk2 as technology development and pass those technologies to ORCA, it will delay things but will cut down the engine dependency on Us engines.

[maitya]

<snip>
M88TREX - This changes the game completely!
- This secures Rafale in Indian conditions for hot and high perf,
<snip>

Hang on - just how will M88-TREX be more suitable (compared to M88-2 or F404 or F414 etc etc) for "hot and high" perf parameters?

[uddu]

https://x.com/thegeo_sync/status/1968524192003006728

@thegeo_sync
India’s MIDHANI Unveils New Nickel-Based Superalloys for Aero-Engines

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd (MIDHANI), India’s leading producer of special metals, has announced indigenous development of new nickel-based materials for aero-engine applications.

SuperNi-41 Plates – A precipitation-hardened nickel-chromium alloy designed for extreme temperatures (up to ~980 °C), ideal for critical, highly stressed engine parts.
High-Temperature Nickel Alloy Billets – Engineered for aerospace requirements, offering improved high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance.
Alloy S152 Forged Bars – A new aerospace-grade alloy under development, aimed at enhancing fatigue and creep performance for engine components.

These alloys support India’s goal of self-reliance in high-temperature materials for aviation, reducing import dependence and strengthening the country’s aerospace supply chain.

With these developments, MIDHANI reinforces its position as a strategic partner for DRDO, HAL, and Indian aerospace & defence programs.

[uddu]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1968927036270850095
@alpha_defense
GTRE's new proposal.

[vijayk]

https://x.com/cvkrishnan/status/1968922415817261234

Kaveri Derivative Engine(without AB) status as of Jan 2025
75% commonality with Kaveri engine
75 hrs altitude testing at CIAM Russia with unrestricted care free throttle movement
50 azimuth cycles completed confirming structural integrity
Awaiting flight testing.

[Cybaru]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1968927036270850095
@alpha_defense
GTRE's new proposal.

WHY MKI? They can pick up used Su30s from the open market. Do they need MKI version for some reason?