Development of India’s Kaveri engine status

The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) sanctioned Kaveri Engine project in 1989. The following milestones were achieved: 9 Full prototype engines and 4 core engines built; 3217 hours of engine testing conducted and Completed Altitude tests & Flying Test Bed (FTB) trials.  This is the first time that an indigenously developed military gas turbine engine was flight tested

Kaveri engine project has achieved higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL) in many critical technology domains and those technologies are being used in the various engine development programmes of the country.  Further the engines are used as test vehicles for validating next generation technologies. Funds details are as follows:

At present, the LCA Tejas is integrated with an imported engine. However, in future, it is proposed to develop indigenous engines for powering our own aircrafts such as LCA variants and AMCA in association with an International Engine House.  The technological capabilities built through the Kaveri engine project will be utilised. 

LCA Tejas, Flight Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration demands higher thrust than the intended engine requirement. Hence the Kaveri in the present architecture cannot be integrated.  In order to induct with LCA Tejas, a modified engine version is required.