The Indian Navy has taken a significant step towards independence in vital propulsion technologies with the initiation of the 24–28 MW Indigenous Gas Turbine Marine Engine Development Program, one of its most ambitious technological endeavours to date.
The proposal, which was approved in principle on July 28, 2025, is part of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020’s “MAKE-I” category, which is the most prestigious route for domestic defence development projects.
The initiative aims to introduce state-of-the-art propulsion options for next naval combat systems while addressing long-standing reliance on foreign suppliers.
The Indian Navy’s dependence on foreign marine gas turbines, such the American General Electric LM2500 and the Ukrainian Zorya-Mashproekt series, has limited its capabilities for decades. These foreign systems, while proven and reliable, have subjected India’s naval modernisation to risks of supply chain interruptions, geopolitical issues, and cost burdens.
Prior attempts to indigenise turbine technology, like the Gas Turbine Research Establishment’s (GTRE) Kaveri Marine Gas Turbine (KMGT) program in partnership with shipyards and industry stakeholders, achieved some progress but were unable to produce an operationally deployable engine for frontline warships.
True self-sufficiency was not achieved even through technology transfer agreements like as those between BHEL-Zorya Mashproekt and HAL-GE. As a result, the new program is a new, comprehensive strategy with increased financing, coordination, and national focus.
For naval operations, the desired power range of 24–28 MW is especially important. The foundation of the propulsion systems for the Indian Navy’s destroyers, frigates, and upcoming major surface combatants will be engines in this range.
Propulsion systems for such vehicles must be able to survive extremely hostile environments, provide sustained endurance for long-range deployments, and allow for fast acceleration and manoeuvrability during combat.
Marine engines confront greater hurdles because of salty, corrosive maritime atmospheres and extended continuous operation, which makes indigenous development a very difficult engineering task. This is in contrast to aviation gas turbines, which operate at high altitudes in comparatively clean environments.
The program emphasises both strategic self-reliance and propulsive independence. India gains operational sovereignty over the availability, upkeep, and lifecycle of propulsion systems by removing its dependency on foreign OEMs. This is crucial during times of conflict when external supply chains might malfunction.
Because it lowers import costs, reduces the need for costly spare parts and maintenance contracts, and promotes a sustainable home ecosystem, indigenous development delivers long-term financial advantages.
In terms of technology, the project represents a national accomplishment in high-temperature metallurgy, cooling technologies, advanced materials research, and turbine blade engineering.
These regions serve as the foundation for advanced automotive applications, aircraft, land-based power generation, and marine engines.
A three-phase development trajectory is described in the roadmap. The initial phase will involve the design, development, and rigorous testing of four prototypes in both laboratory and naval operational settings. These trials will validate characteristics such as propulsion performance, fuel efficiency, endurance, tolerance to corrosive saltwater environments, and maintenance friendliness.
In order to ensure economies of scale, the second stage will entail a shift to bulk manufacture, with at least 40 engines designated for integration into frontline naval units.
With the participation of private-sector industry leaders, research institutes under DRDO’s GTRE, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like HAL and BHEL, the technological ecosystem will finally come together in a collaborative paradigm where industrial capacity and knowledge meet.
The obstacles that lie ahead are tremendous, though. Extreme thermodynamic pressures, high combustion chamber efficiency, sophisticated cooling systems, and component design perfection down to the micro-millimeter make marine gas turbines one of the most demanding technical systems in the world.
Mastery of single-crystal alloys, sophisticated ceramic coatings, and high-pressure ratio compressors are necessary to develop turbine blades that can sustain temperatures of up to 1,500°C while guaranteeing extended operational lifespans, dependability at sea, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue.
Global naval benchmarks also depend on maintaining good fuel efficiency and reducing maintenance downtime. India’s industrial base will be put to the test if it can overcome these obstacles, but if it succeeds, it will join a select group of countries that have independently perfected the design of marine turbines, including the US, Russia, and the UK.
The program affects more than only the Indian Navy from a strategic standpoint. When fully developed, these domestic turbines could have a large market for export to friendly and partner navies throughout the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond.
Countries that depend on antiquated propulsion systems but are looking for dependable, affordable alternatives may turn to India for help, broadening their procurement base and enhancing India’s position as a regional supplier of net security. This has the ability to support India’s economy under the defence export drive in addition to strategically projecting strength.
More than just a propulsion project, the Indigenous 24–28 MW Gas Turbine Program represents a significant industrial, technological, and strategic advancement for India’s long-term naval independence. If implemented effectively, it will eliminate India’s reliance on foreign suppliers, lower expenses, improve the country’s technological environment, and mark India’s entry as a producer of top-tier marine propulsion systems.
India is positioned to become a global leader in marine turbine technology and establish itself as a growing maritime power of the twenty-first century when the prototypes are produced, tested, and deployed in the upcoming years.
