The pic is literally a year old (at least), and nothing exclusive. It's from a slide last year's presentation on Ghatak UCAV which was taken down.
All imported by our free loader dhandho Bahadurs
What is wrong with importing machines? All the new semi-con fabs coming up will use imported equipment. You have to start somewhere. Can't start climbing a tree from the top.
India is moving forward with a strong push toward self-reliance in defence aviation technology. The Gas Turbine Research Establishment, a leading lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Ministry of Defence, has released a Request for Information (RFI) to set up a National Aero Engine Test Complex (NAETC).
What the NAETC Will Include
The National Aero Engine Test Complex is planned as a fully integrated, world-class testing hub within India. It will include:
- A High Altitude Engine Test Facility to simulate real flight conditions at extreme altitudes
- A Fan and Compressor Test Facility for evaluating compression stages
- A Combustor Test Facility to assess combustion performance and durability
- A Turbine Test Facility for testing turbine components under realistic stress conditions
- An Afterburner Test Facility to validate thrust augmentation systems
Beyond supporting GTRE, this complex is expected to serve as a national resource for India’s wider aerospace ecosystem.
Call for Global Participation
Through RFI, GTRE is inviting interest from both Indian and international players. This includes:
- Original Equipment Manufacturers
- Test facility developers and integrators
- Industrial partners
- Joint ventures and consortiums
Finally something is happening in single crystalline blades...
The Development Partner shall machine 200 nos. of HPT-Blades and 50 nos. of paired HPT-Vane through processes approved by Technical Airworthiness Agency (TAA) meeting all the stipulated technical requirements along with the dimensional inspection reports.
Delivery Schedule: The delivery period for the Development Contract is 30 months.
Kaveri Engine will rise from ashes & Solve India's Biggest Defence Aviation Problem? - AlphaDefense.in
If one were to ask what India’s single biggest pain point in defence aviation is, the answer would come instantly…
alphadefense.in
Few years ago, Team Alpha Defence reported that GTRE was working with an Indian manufacturing partner to explore the development of an afterburning variant of the Kaveri. The objective was ambitious but clear: determine whether the engine could eventually generate the approximately 85 kN class thrust required for the Tejas Mk1 and Mk1A.
The program received a fresh lease of life through the Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) project. During this effort, the engine underwent substantial modifications and evolved into a significantly different configuration. Reports indicate that the revised engine has demonstrated approximately 50 kN of dry thrust, making it suitable for applications such as the Ghatak UCAV.
The next major milestone involves integrating an afterburner system and progressively increasing overall thrust output. The long-term target remains the 85 kN class necessary for fighter aircraft operations.
Importantly, even if the full 85 kN objective is not achieved immediately, the engine’s current trajectory remains highly significant. The modified core is believed to have already demonstrated around 73 kN of sustained thrust, with expectations that further refinements could push performance higher. The strategy appears to focus on certifying the engine through flight testing on the Tejas platform before pursuing successive upgrades and component substitutions aimed at increasing thrust and reliability. The DcPP is decided and it will be Brahmos Aerospace Trivandrum Limited (BATL). For few years it was just GTRE effort but now they have Ministry of Defence onboard.
This incremental approach differs fundamentally from earlier efforts that sought to achieve all requirements simultaneously.
Instead of waiting for a perfect engine, the plan appears to be centered on obtaining a certifiable, flyable, indigenous powerplant and then continuously improving it through successive blocks of development. Such a methodology mirrors the evolutionary path followed by several successful aero-engine programs worldwide.
The program received a fresh lease of life through the Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) project. During this effort, the engine underwent substantial modifications and evolved into a significantly different configuration. Reports indicate that the revised engine has demonstrated approximately 50 kN of dry thrust, making it suitable for applications such as the Ghatak UCAV.
The next major milestone involves integrating an afterburner system and progressively increasing overall thrust output. The long-term target remains the 85 kN class necessary for fighter aircraft operations.
Importantly, even if the full 85 kN objective is not achieved immediately, the engine’s current trajectory remains highly significant. The modified core is believed to have already demonstrated around 73 kN of sustained thrust, with expectations that further refinements could push performance higher. The strategy appears to focus on certifying the engine through flight testing on the Tejas platform before pursuing successive upgrades and component substitutions aimed at increasing thrust and reliability. The DcPP is decided and it will be Brahmos Aerospace Trivandrum Limited (BATL). For few years it was just GTRE effort but now they have Ministry of Defence onboard.
This incremental approach differs fundamentally from earlier efforts that sought to achieve all requirements simultaneously.
Instead of waiting for a perfect engine, the plan appears to be centered on obtaining a certifiable, flyable, indigenous powerplant and then continuously improving it through successive blocks of development. Such a methodology mirrors the evolutionary path followed by several successful aero-engine programs worldwide.
This is best new of this year.
If GTRE get certified Kaveri @73 kn max but sustained thrust, you have an indigenous engine at your disposal.
With the availability of testing facilities (which are under construction), you can do increamental changes.
If GTRE get certified Kaveri @73 kn max but sustained thrust, you have an indigenous engine at your disposal.
With the availability of testing facilities (which are under construction), you can do increamental changes.
Is it possible to achieve the required thrust level of Kaveri for Tejas with the current core?
Nope.
Alpha defense on the source of the news
https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/2062954209235136521
Everything is possible, initial configuration of ge-404 was producing just 72kN of thrust!
Later increments improvements were made like for tejas they increased thrust to 84kN but for saab gripen its still producing 78kN
GTRE is also improving. KD2 is improved version and the remaining KD3 and KD4 may likely reach the requirement. Composite materials are being produced in India now as per the news available in the media. Manufacturing facilities and required equipment are being added, but the only obstacle is testing facilities which are presently not available in INDIA. Installing these facilities appears to take time. People with reliable data and information may kindly correct me.
Test of high pressure compresser of HTCE in high altitute test facility in Rajankunte.
Listen this one of trusted voice of defence related social media. Learned person invite to correct any wrong -
Listen this one of trusted voice of defence related social media. Learned person invite to correct any wrong -
The ability to cast the SCB have been there for ages. We have been doing that for both Kaveri and AL31, it was the getting the mixture of superalloy right and post cast operation like machining, hardening, and more importantly thermal barrier coating. Apparently, PTC is doing the later bit for GTRE, it's likely that they cracked that bit.
RA News Desk
June 15, 2026
NEW DELHI. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation has successfully perfected indigenous single crystal turbine blade technology, placing the nation into an elite global group capable of manufacturing critical, ultra-high-temperature aero-engine components.
Further it is learnt that DRDO has transferred the technology to private domestic manufacturers. For instance, PTC Industries has secured contracts with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to manufacture "ready-to-fit" single-crystal blades for the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE-2
June 15, 2026
Indigenous Aerospace Leap: DRDO Perfects Complex Single Crystal Blade Tech for Advanced Jet Engines
NEW DELHI. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation has successfully perfected indigenous single crystal turbine blade technology, placing the nation into an elite global group capable of manufacturing critical, ultra-high-temperature aero-engine components.Further it is learnt that DRDO has transferred the technology to private domestic manufacturers. For instance, PTC Industries has secured contracts with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to manufacture "ready-to-fit" single-crystal blades for the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE-2