Kaveri & Aero-Engine: News & Discussion

[uddu]

https://x.com/InsightGL/status/2035558825231864186?s=20 ---> Kaveri 2 Update

How reliable is this source. Hoping this is true.

There is another news which states that GTRE has not made claim of 90KN thrust but 85+. Even if it's 85+ will take care of covering for the Tejas MK1 and MK1A fleet.

To make this happen, the initial Kaveri that comes out with 82KN thrust should be going on the initial lot of 40 Tejas MK1. For sure these need upgraded to MK1A standard as well. Then when the Kaveri 2.0 WITH 85+KN comes the rest of the Tejas MK1A will be taken care by Kaveri 2.0

Above these we will need a larger one that can replace the F414 that gives around 100KN+ or so. This can be based on the tech that has been developed for the Kaveri 2.0. This should be going on into the Tejas MK2. Probably around 200 plus Tejas MK2 will be needed and that many engines.

[Rakesh]

UPA-era oil payments are completed and now the big guns are coming out

https://x.com/Neetivaan/status/2034955609674850721?s=20 ---> Atmanirbhar Bhārat is the only way out.

India’s Big Jet Engine Push: DRDO Plans Mega Test Facility
https://www.news18.com/india/indias-big ... 91494.html
23 March 2026

[vijayk]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/2039267918261956696

India has operationalized a 4500/5100T open-die forging press at the PTC–Aerolloy facility in Lucknow.

What this really means

This isn’t just another machine, it’s the backbone of next-gen aeroengine manufacturing.

1. Enables forging of high-integrity critical parts
2. Works with Titanium & Nickel-based superalloys (used in jet engines)
3. Produces components like discs, shafts, and rings that face extreme heat & stress

Why it matters:

Until now, many such critical forgings relied on foreign supply chains. This press allows India to:
→ Build stronger, defect-free engine components
→ Improve reliability of indigenous aeroengines
→ Reduce import dependency in a strategic domain

In short: This is a quiet but major step toward true aeroengine self-reliance.

P.S : Not an April fools post (I swear on Kaveri)

[williams]

How reliable is this source. Hoping this is true.

There is another news which states that GTRE has not made claim of 90KN thrust but 85+. Even if it's 85+ will take care of covering for the Tejas MK1 and MK1A fleet.

To make this happen, the initial Kaveri that comes out with 82KN thrust should be going on the initial lot of 40 Tejas MK1. For sure these need upgraded to MK1A standard as well. Then when the Kaveri 2.0 WITH 85+KN comes the rest of the Tejas MK1A will be taken care by Kaveri 2.0

Above these we will need a larger one that can replace the F414 that gives around 100KN+ or so. This can be based on the tech that has been developed for the Kaveri 2.0. This should be going on into the Tejas MK2. Probably around 200 plus Tejas MK2 will be needed and that many engines.

We've had a lot of ideas, but here’s where things actually stand. We have a few prototypes that have gone through ground testing and some tests in the FTB. There have been some changes, including a new A/B section and other optimizations. Here’s what comes next:
1. Build another prototype with the necessary optimization
2. Go through the ground tests
3. Do the flying tests again
4. Certify it for integration
5. Integration with the AC
6. Integration testing (This will take quite a bit of time if the performance/weight parameters are different from the GE engines)
7. Recertification with the new engine.

Since this is a new engine and our team hasn’t integrated a modern engine with a modern fighter before, the process will take some time.

On the bright side, there’s a lot of positive news. DRDO is working on a more advanced ground-test facility and is searching for an FTB. There are updates on improved tooling, such as presses and forges, and some breakthroughs in metallurgy. These are all good signs, but we shouldn’t expect to see a fully integrated Tejas MKx fighter with Kaveri x.x for at least 7 to 10 years..

[uddu]

Print and GE deliberately pushing lies to the people justifying their failure to deliver the engines. Now the reason is the Just started U.S Iran war as if the Iranian's bombed their plant in the U.S.
6th Tejas Engine Delivered

[uddu]

GTRE Plans To Convert Two Su-30MKI Fighters As Flying Testbeds To Accelerate Indigenous Aero Engine Certification
https://defence.in/threads/gtre-plans-t ... ion.17348/
Date:2-4-26

[uddu]

DRDO to Develop MQ-9B-Class Engine For Indigenous HALE UAV, Focuses on Adapting HTSE-1200 with Private Sector Help
https://defence.in/threads/drdo-to-deve ... elp.17349/
Date: 2-4-26

[bala]

initiated a proposal to transform two Su-30MKI fighter jets into dedicated flying testbeds

Whoa? what took them this long. Did they need permissions from Russia. Twin engine Su-30MKI is a good start and they can test in supersonic regime if need be. You need to be able to land with 1 engine just in case.

[drnayar]

initiated a proposal to transform two Su-30MKI fighter jets into dedicated flying testbeds

Whoa? what took them this long. Did they need permissions from Russia. Twin engine Su-30MKI is a good start and they can test in supersonic regime if need be. You need to be able to land with 1 engine just in case.

indeed ., the answer was right there.. . As a twin-engine fighter the Su30 is specifically engineered to maintain safe flight if one engine fails or is intentionally shut down esp with its quadruple-redundant fly-by-wire system and automatic flight assist features

[pravula]

Whoa? what took them this long. Did they need permissions from Russia. Twin engine Su-30MKI is a good start and they can test in supersonic regime if need be. You need to be able to land with 1 engine just in case.

indeed ., the answer was right there.. . As a twin-engine fighter the Su30 is specifically engineered to maintain safe flight if one engine fails or is intentionally shut down esp with its quadruple-redundant fly-by-wire system and automatic flight assist features

And enough space for instruments and an operator.

[Cybaru]

GTRE Plans To Convert Two Su-30MKI Fighters As Flying Testbeds To Accelerate Indigenous Aero Engine Certification
https://defence.in/threads/gtre-plans-t ... ion.17348/
Date:2-4-26

Could have had 18 testbeds if we had not sold those early su30Ks for cheap.

[Manish_P]

..
Could have had 18 testbeds if we had not sold those early su30Ks for cheap.

Or perhaps bought the twenty odd cheap MiG 29s supposedly offered to us a few years ago?

[Mukesh.Kumar]

I find it odd that GTRE is opting for a Su 30 MKI platform. Using a modified Il-76 would cost less than USD 50 million, provide a huge margin of safety with quadruple engine redundancy, allow for real time data storage and long endurance monitoring by technicians on board.

Is it a signal that all basic testing has been completed and they want to test the engine in as real life and as high speed conditions as possible in a real fighter jet?

Appreciate if someone could discuss the possible rationale behind this decision to test on a frontline fighter.

[williams]

I find it odd that GTRE is opting for a Su 30 MKI platform. Using a modified Il-76 would cost less than USD 50 million, provide a huge margin of safety with quadruple engine redundancy, allow for real time data storage and long endurance monitoring by technicians on board.

Is it a signal that all basic testing has been completed and they want to test the engine in as real life and as high speed conditions as possible in a real fighter jet?

Appreciate if someone could discuss the possible rationale behind this decision to test on a frontline fighter.

Our folks know the electronics in MKI a lot better than IL 76. We have replaced its Avionics, EW Suite, Radar etc etc and we have the IP rights to do it. Hence MKI is a bit unconventional but will work.

[uddu]

And this is a proposal from GTRE. For the IAF, Babudom and Ministers to take a decision and provide the aircraft will take another half a decade is the sad reality. Probably American's will be attacking us during that time.

[bala]

I find it odd that GTRE is opting for a Su 30 MKI platform. Using a modified Il-76 would cost less than USD 50 million, provide a huge margin of safety with quadruple engine redundancy, allow for real time data storage and long endurance monitoring by technicians on board.

Is it a signal that all basic testing has been completed and they want to test the engine in as real life and as high speed conditions as possible in a real fighter jet?

Appreciate if someone could discuss the possible rationale behind this decision to test on a frontline fighter.

Besides the 4 engines for IL-76, things like data storage etc can be done quite efficiently since nowadays 10 TBs disks are compact and cheap. The SU-30 MKI can have instruments only to alert pilots on emergency type situations when the engine blows out. The rest of the monitoring can be done on ground with key parameters sent to monitoring station. The 10 TB disk can be examined later and can use big data processing to find trends, etc. India has more knowledge of SU-30MKI and can easily instrument things.

Testing at supersonic speeds is a benefit of Su-30MKI which is not possible in IL-76. Also kaveri has flown on IL-76 in Russia.

[uddu]

https://x.com/Pivot2Centre/status/2041455049134469300
@Pivot2Centre
Nuclear weapon - without any help

Feeder reactor - without any help

Jet engines- no ToT will get India there. It has to be made without any help

https://x.com/CaVivekkhatri/status/2041377011277664569
@CaVivekkhatri
Last night, India switched on a reactor.

Here are 9 numbers nobody is talking about:

→ 72 years: Time since Homi Bhabha conceived this plan
→ 22 years: Time to actually build it
→ ₹7,700 crore: Final cost (started at ₹3,492 crore)
→ 500 MW: Power it will generate
→ 2nd: India's global rank only Russia had this before
→ 25%: India's share of world's thorium reserves
→ 400 years: How long those reserves can power India
→ 200+: Indian companies that built it. Zero foreign designs.
→ 3: Countries that tried and quit - USA, Germany, UK

A thread that will blow your mind:

[basant]

"→ ₹7,700 crore: Final cost (started at ₹3,492 crore)"

I am sure this number is not inflation corrected. Else it would be >₹10,000 crores by today's value even at a modest rate of 5%. (Gemini gives a value of ₹14,003 cr, BTW)

[Cybaru]

I find it odd that GTRE is opting for a Su 30 MKI platform. Using a modified Il-76 would cost less than USD 50 million, provide a huge margin of safety with quadruple engine redundancy, allow for real time data storage and long endurance monitoring by technicians on board.

Is it a signal that all basic testing has been completed and they want to test the engine in as real life and as high speed conditions as possible in a real fighter jet?

Appreciate if someone could discuss the possible rationale behind this decision to test on a frontline fighter.

Besides the 4 engines for IL-76, things like data storage etc can be done quite efficiently since nowadays 10 TBs disks are compact and cheap. The SU-30 MKI can have instruments only to alert pilots on emergency type situations when the engine blows out. The rest of the monitoring can be done on ground with key parameters sent to monitoring station. The 10 TB disk can be examined later and can use big data processing to find trends, etc. India has more knowledge of SU-30MKI and can easily instrument things.

Testing at supersonic speeds is a benefit of Su-30MKI which is not possible in IL-76. Also kaveri has flown on IL-76 in Russia.

While a large aircraft like the Il-76 has the size to carry heavy shielding and survive an engine disintegrating, a fighter like the MKI doesn't have that luxury. If a blisk fails or the engine catches fire, the weight of a 'protective shell' would be too heavy to fly, and without it, a major failure will destroy the whole aircraft. It can however fly a well tested engine where they are confident it's just down to performance. Refurbish one of the Il-76s back into a test bed.

[uddu]

Cybaru ji, this proposal will be kept pending and hence no Su-30 MKI and hence no engine fire. There will be no IL-76 provided and overall no loss of aircraft. Everything is safe. Nothing to worry.

[Cybaru]

Unfortunately you are correct - thats been the story for last 20 years.

[uddu]

Reminds me of Modiji's speech to Namibian parliament on the Cheetah's. Everything is fine, nothing to worry. Hakuna Matata

[saumitra_j]

My hunch is that they want to do Su-30MKI because we understand the physics of the airflow around the aircraft, thanks to all the integration work we have done with Brahmos and other Indian weapons and also because the mission computer is ours, we can modify the software. Not sure we can do that with an IL76 without Russian help and if were available, wouldn't we have done it already??

Stations 3 and 4 on the Su30MKI can take up to 1500 kgs and are high enough for an engine pod to be mounted, so may be that is the plan!

My take is that this is a sensible approach and the only thing that would have prevented them so far was lack of air frames and now that are planning to build new ones, this proposal is something that the Government can include with the additional air frames.

[bala]

If you are curious how GE test engines to the extreme. 747 is refitted with the engine and there are onboard computers and storage devices to record all kinds of data.

GE Aerospace’s 747 flight test plane visits Cincinnati

[Manish_P]

Does GE or P&W test their new model engines on fighter aircraft, after having tested them on the civilian test beds?

I mean one old engine and one new one on say a F-15

How did they test the P&W F135 of the F35. It is larger than other fighter turbofans and has movable nozzle.

[williams]

Cybaru ji, this proposal will be kept pending and hence no Su-30 MKI and hence no engine fire. There will be no IL-76 provided and overall no loss of aircraft. Everything is safe. Nothing to worry.

The only credible news related to GTRE so far is the construction of Rajanukunte test facility. The whole SU-30 news came from two dubious news platforms. So we don't know what is really happening. The other credible news is KDE ready to get integrated with the Ghatak platform.

[uddu]

Cybaru ji, this proposal will be kept pending and hence no Su-30 MKI and hence no engine fire. There will be no IL-76 provided and overall no loss of aircraft. Everything is safe. Nothing to worry.

The only credible news related to GTRE so far is the construction of Rajanukunte test facility. The whole SU-30 news came from two dubious news platforms. So we don't know what is really happening. The other credible news is KDE ready to get integrated with the Ghatak platform.

It's a proposal. GTRE must have send such proposals including Flying Testbed probably for decades. Nothing new there until approved. We need good leadership in terms of understanding and appreciating providing facilities to reach true Atmanirbharta. Sadly after Shriman MP's death, more or less Make in India is pushed as the Atmanirbharta effort, which is easier to achieve rather than the hard, investment in money and time needing, know how, know why, breakthrough tech in other areas from the investment made for one, new solutions (Kaveri to Marine Kaveri, Dry Kaveri), leading other than following (SMART), long term solution path.

The most worrisome aspect is the lack of orders for indigenous weaponry while every weapon from abroad is making a backdoor entry. Whatever indigenous get very pathetic small order. There is no urgency or vision to see that the same indigenous weapon can not only provide the much needed capability and it's variants can be made, but also help capture the world market in such a way that the other countries influence on them can be reduced and ours increased. Huge opportunity exists. Be it Akash NG, VSHORADS, Warships, ITCM missiles, Bhargavatastra, ATGAS and its variants, Astra and its variants, VLSRSAM, Nagastra, DRDO developed Bombs, Uttam radar, Desi small arms, Matangi, Unmanned Underwater vehicle. The list is huge.

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2042241499300266372
@Varun55484761
MIDHANI Achieves Major Milestone in Indigenous Aero-Engine Material Qualification!

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2045434413702684766
@Varun55484761
GTRE looking for Indian OEMs for Setting up infrastructure for manufacturing Indegenous aero gas turbine engine components for Indegenous advanced high thrust class JetEngine. Its development is under progress at GTRE.

[VishnuS]

Maitya bhai, you've patiently explained a lot of info related to Kaveri and Indian Aero Engines! I have a question on KDE that has not been implemented yet! If possible, can you explain why we didn't choose this route??

Kaveri is a low bypass turbo fan engine, 0.16 closer to 3rd gen engine interms of by pass and there is a good reason for that! We don't want to loose thrust during different seasons.

Unlike Kaveri in LCA MK1, KDE in Ghatak will surve a different purpose, I mean Ghatak is more designed to stealth and the KDE's ability to hide it's thermal signature plays a far more important than using full power.

Then why didn't we go for a higher Bypass engine, if I got this doubt, then surely anyone with basic aeronautical degree got this idea, did the math and trashed the idea. I am just curious why it was trashed! Please don't say time or funds, Ghatak started as swift and if there was a remote possibility then fan redesign would have at least funded and by now we'd at least hear about the development work.

From my pov

1. High bypass is more efficient and generates more thrust and since there is no AB section, there isn't much rework needed (at least I am hoping)

2. At 30k altitude, the thermal signature is lower compared to low bypass engine.

3. We also had 3d printed turbo fan research happening in HTFE 25, that could have helped our fan lighter?

Sorry for troubling you with silly questions

[Jits]

[fanne]

Maitya bhai,
Kaveri is a low bypass turbo fan engine, 0.16 closer to 3rd gen engine interms of by pass and there is a good reason for that! We don't want to loose thrust during different seasons.

low bypass ratio ensures that a larger fraction of the airflow passes through the core, which helps in maintaining more consistent thrust across variations in temperature and altitude. In that sense, the engine can be considered closer to being flat-rated, with relatively lower thrust degradation in hot-and-high conditions.

There is also a possible secondary factor. Achieving higher thrust from lower core mass flow generally demands higher turbine inlet temperatures and pressure ratios, which in turn require advanced materials and metallurgy. Engines like the F404, F414, or even the RD-33 operate in regimes where material capability becomes critical. It is plausible that design trade-offs in Kaveri leaned toward managing these constraints, though this point remains speculative.

The key question is whether this design direction ultimately limited performance. Most modern fighter engines did not prioritize flat-rating to the same extent, yet they perform adequately across operational environments and are widely used without major limitations. So it is worth examining whether the emphasis on flat-rating in Kaveri provided a meaningful operational advantage, or if it came at the cost of peak performance.

Would be interesting to hear an expert view on whether this trade-off was justified in hindsight.

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2046120452314267836
@Varun55484761
Kaveri 2.0 expected to have 55–59 kN of thrust without afterburner & up to 90 kN with afterburner.

GTREs first aim is to certify the existing GTX-35VS Kaveri engine. Flight tests will be conducted in the near future to assess the engine's performance & capabilities.

GTRE Advances Kaveri 2.0 Engine Development to Replace GE F404 in Tejas Mk1A Fighters by the 2030s
https://defence.in/threads/gtre-advance ... 30s.17520/
Date: 20-4-2026