India’s indigenous fighter jet engine effort is entering a decisive new phase with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment’s Kaveri 2.0 core overhaul, Business Today reported.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation is pursuing a complete structural rebirth of the engine, conceived more than four decades ago and separated from the Light Combat Aircraft project in 2008 after performance shortfalls.

The earlier Kaveri Derivative Engine delivered between 49kN and 52kN of thrust, which fell short of modern fighter operational requirements.

The new design represents a fundamental architectural shift rather than an incremental modification. Engineers are now targeting 55kN to 60kN of dry thrust and 90kN to 100kN of maximum wet thrust with an afterburner. This performance threshold is intended to match the American-made General Electric F404 engines currently powering the TEJAS MK-1A.

The GTRE is managing a deliberate two-pronged engine strategy. A heavier 120kN to 140kN engine is being co-developed with French aerospace firm SAFRAN for the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft under the Advanced High Thrust Class Engine program.

In parallel, Kaveri 2.0 is charted as a dedicated medium-thrust workhorse, specifically designed to replace imported engines on frontline fighters during their mid-life upgrades.

To achieve this leap in performance, GTRE is completely rebuilding the engine core. A redesigned High-Pressure Compressor is central to the overhaul, maximising pressure ratios and fuel efficiency. The new core incorporates single-piece blisks machined from advanced titanium alloys, eliminating air leaks, reducing structural weight, and raising the thrust-to-weight ratio.

Additionally, single-crystal turbine blades are being integrated into the assembly. These blades can tolerate higher internal operating temperatures, boosting thermal efficiency and enabling sustained performance under demanding combat conditions.

The transition to an indigenous 90kN engine carries direct strategic weight for the Indian Air Force. With the current GE F404 engines slated to reach their mid-life replacement cycle in the 2030s, a fully qualified Kaveri 2.0 would provide an in-house alternative.

This reduces foreign hardware dependence and insulates the fleet from international supply chain disruptions that have already delayed deliveries of imported powerplants.

Elements of the Kaveri technology baseline are already in active service. A dry, non-afterburning derivative of the engine successfully powers DRDO’s Ghatak stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle, demonstrating the adaptability of the design.

The Kaveri 2.0 initiative is not only about replacing engines but also about building a stronger indigenous aerospace propulsion ecosystem. If successful, it will mark a major milestone in India’s journey toward technological independence in one of the most complex fields of defence engineering.

Agencies