GTRE Kaveri Engine

[HariPrasad]

The news was legit. However, IAF opposed this idea. Now a Mig-29 will be alloted to test a Kaveri prototype.

Sooner or later, we're going to achieve all our goals under Modi regime. Till then you're welcome to continue with your pessimism

Good to read that but no serious effort is visible to make it workable. Efforts like what Parrikar did to make Tejas acceptable by IAF are completely missing. Had we been serious, Tejas would have been flying with Kaveri today. No fund allocation. Some time program stops completely. Some time news are available that some technologies are developed but working engine is far away from being operational because lethargic approach of government.

 

[The Tashkent files]

Key takeaways for me:

• Engine certification for flying has been achieved, more tests planned and expected to end by 2025
• Serial production expected to start by end 2025, start 2026
  
• Dry Kaveri to be used in Ghatak - something we already know
• Post this, DRDO to put up a proposal for funding the development of modified Kaveri with 90KN thrust, to be used in MLU of Tejas Mk1A as a replacement of GE 404!!, clearly calls out the advantages of Kaveri's flat rating over GE 404's performance drop of about 7 to 8%
  

Hopefully AI 2025 will throw more light, those going for it please if you can get as many details as can be publicly shared!!

 

[vstol Jockey]

The Indian standard Atmosphere model has been set at ISA+20*. This in my opinion is wrong. I have flown extensively over India not just as a fighter pilot but also as an Airline Pilot. Only in the heat of End April till Mid June, we experience such deviations, otherwise ISA+15 is a better bench mark. No where in the world we have sea surface Temperature exceeding 30*C. For a Deck Based fighter the flat rating should be just ISA+10*. The IAF asked for ISA+20* because the surface heating and reradiation of heat results in 3-4* extra heat at about 2 meters height. Plus the wind is nearly stagnant when such heating takes place. High winds take away the heat factor and result in what is called chilling factor. In high winds, a 40* temperature may look like just 35*C. Same is true about deck based Operations. The limiting Take Off wind on deck for a fighter aircraft on our Carriers is 28Kts. With the Carrier moving, there is no chance of stagnation of wind to get the air reheated by reflection heat from Deck. I know the chill factor we faced when we used to steam at 28kts on our ships even in summers in Indian Waters.
Once you flat rate an engine, the problem is that even if you get better atmospheric conditions, it still produces the same thrust. This is not good for Carrier based operations as a Carrier can be deployed anywhere in the world.

 

[Tatvamasi]

Key takeaways for me:

Not sure why you are looking for update from this when GTRE director has given a clear presentation.

Engine certification for flying has been achieved, more tests planned and expected to end by 2025

Kaveri derivative for UCAV yes.

Serial production expected to start by end 2025, start 2026

Not really. Only after UCAV gets serial production then only KDE has to.

Dry Kaveri to be used in Ghatak - something we already know

Yes, Kaveri derivative.

Post this, DRDO to put up a proposal for funding the development of modified Kaveri with 90KN thrust, to be used in MLU of Tejas Mk1A as a replacement of GE 404!!, clearly calls out the advantages of Kaveri's flat rating over GE 404's performance drop of about 7 to 8%

Nope, the GTRE director clearly stated a 13% shortfall (71kN) from the original design goal of the Kaveri engine, and they can reach up to 75kN with their current expertise.

Project Kaveri is done, it will never be part of a fighter.

 

[The Tashkent files]

Nope, the GTRE director clearly stated a 13% shortfall (71kN) from the original design goal of the Kaveri engine, and they can reach up to 75kN with their current expertise.

Project Kaveri is done, it will never be part of a fighter.

I don't think so. At present GTRE has capacity to reach 60/90 kn with TET of 1550 *C, with new core. And if this happen, it will go in Tejas Mark 1 A in mid life upgrade.
TET of 1550*C come from DMS 4 SINGLE CRYSTAL BLADES.
Tejas Mark 2 will get SAFRAN GTRE 110 kn engine in mid life upgrade.
What will happen only time will tell.

 

[Ashwin]

I don't think so. At present GTRE has capacity to reach 60/90 kn with TET of 1550 *C, with new core. And if this happen, it will go in Tejas Mark 1 A in mid life upgrade.
TET of 1550*C come from DMS 4 SINGLE CRYSTAL BLADES.
Tejas Mark 2 will get SAFRAN GTRE 110 kn engine in mid life upgrade.
What will happen only time will tell.

Unless there is some serious supply chain constraints after a decade, mark 1A won't need any engine change. It's too expensive with limited upside.

But, I really hope they complete the Kaveri development and demonstrate LCA integration.