As modern combat shifts heavily towards high-speed, non-contact strikes, India is rapidly expanding its indigenous capabilities in jet-powered unmanned aerial systems.

The strategic push comes amidst the evolving aerial conflict in Ukraine, where Russian high-speed jet drones, such as the Geran-4 and Geran-5, have severely tested air defence networks with their 500-kilometre-per-hour speeds and eight-kilometre operational ceilings.

Leading this technological shift, the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment in Bangalore has successfully developed a 350-kilogramme-class expendable turbojet engine.

This indigenous propulsion unit is tailored for long-range cruise missiles, target drones, and jet-propelled loitering munitions, positioning itself just beneath the 450-kilogramme-class Small Turbofan Engine built for India’s Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile.

To put this capability into global context, the United States relies on a similar 400-kilogramme-class engine to power its battle-proven Tomahawk cruise missiles.

This technological landmark aligns with the Indian Army’s recent acquisition of 106 Agniveg jet-powered loitering munitions from a domestic defence manufacturer.

Capable of reaching velocities up to 450 kilometres per hour, the Agniveg flies more than twice as fast as conventional propeller-driven drones like the original Shahed-136.

Engineered with advanced anti-jamming and anti-spoofing technology, the Agniveg boasts a circular error probable of under five metres, delivering precision firepower deep inside enemy territory.

Its superior speed and accuracy allow military commanders to neutralise high-value command centres, radar installations, fuel depots, and logistics hubs without risking manned aircraft or consuming expensive long-range missiles.

Achieving success in this domain requires extraordinary precision engineering and complex metallurgy, capabilities traditionally held by a select group of global powers.

To scale up domestic manufacturing, the Bangalore-based laboratory teamed up with key industry partner Azad Engineering, alongside an emerging ecosystem of private aerospace start-ups including DG Propulsion, Nabhdrishti Aerospace, and Paninian Aerospace.

These concerted national efforts are drastically curtailing India’s dependence on foreign imports for specialized propulsion systems.

While challenges remain in mastering the complex turbofan technology required for heavy combat fighter aircraft, India’s rapid progress in expendable jet engines marks a definitive step towards sovereign air defence readiness.

Agencies