In order to further its Kaveri engine program, DRDO’s sister company, GTRE (Gas Turbine Research Establishment), intends to test older TEJAS airframes. In order to collect performance data that will guide the development of the next-generation Kaveri 2.0 engine, which is intended to achieve a thrust of 90 kN, these tests are essential.
GTRE plans to use older TEJAS Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Limited Series Production (LSP) airframes to verify the capabilities of the Kaveri engine. This strategy will assist in obtaining extra information required to improve the Kaveri 2.0 standards.
With estimates of up to 90 kN, the Kaveri 2.0 is expected to provide noticeably more thrust than its predecessor. In order to lessen India’s reliance on foreign engines, this thrust level is necessary to power improved TEJAS variants and other upcoming combat aircraft.
An afterburner is anticipated to increase the dry thrust of the current Kaveri engine, which produces roughly 49–51 kN, to 73–75 kN. This is appropriate for programs like the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) and Rapid Personal Surveillance Aircraft (RPSA) UCAV programs, but it is insufficient for more recent versions like the TEJAS MK-1A.
The Kaveri engine’s non-afterburning variant has been approved for inflight testing, which will happen in Russia aboard a modified Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft. The purpose of this phase is to assess how well the engine integrates with aircraft systems and performs under varied flight situations.
It is anticipated that successful TEJAS airframe trials will yield important information on the engine’s operational capabilities, opening the door for the huge Kaveri 2.0 project and strengthening India’s aerospace technological independence.
These discoveries mark a crucial step towards developing indigenous capabilities in military aviation, fitting with India’s broader aims of defense self-sufficiency and technical advancement.
