Powerful Kaveri Engine is ready to power UCAV Ghatak in 2025

India’s Kaveri engine is now ready for testing which will be used in India’s high-speed stealth program, Russian news agency RT India shared this information in a post on social media x, The Kaveri Engine is an indigenous jet engine development program undertaken by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India. The project aimed to develop a turbofan engine for India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA),

For testing this engine, IL 76 cargo aircraft has been selected which has a total of 4 engines and one of its engines will be replaced with the indigenous engine for testing.

What is the history and Latest Update of Kaveri Engine –

In 1986, DRDO was authorized by the Defence Ministry to develop engines for light combat aircraft. then Prime Minister of India was Rajiv Gandhi.

History of Kaveri Engine –

This engine is named after the river Kaveri, till now a total of 9 kaveri derivative engine have been developed by gas turbine research establishment GTRE which are K 5,6,7,8,9,K9+, KGMT, Kaveri Dry, and K 10

Initially a budget of ₹382 crore was allotted for the engine, which escalated over time and the program was shelved in 2010 for a number of reasons, one of which was the lack of infrastructure for the engine’s blade metal.

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Latest update of Kaveri Engine –

After the dry Kaveri engine trials are completed at the Gromov Flight Research Institute, this engine will be integrated into India’s UCAV Ghatak stealth programme, UCAV is India’s Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle program which is being designed under the Long Range Combat Aerial System.

The thrust of the dry variant of this engine is around 52 kg newtons, which meets the thrust requirement of unmanned aerial vehicles.

UCAV Ghatak is developing by ADE ( Aeronautical Development Establishment ) under the DRDO and it is capable of carrying missiles, bombs, guided missiles.

The engine that will be used in the UCAV Ghatak is the Kaveri derivative engine KDE.

Looking at the modern war, now India will have to develop its 5th generation and 6th generation fighter jets as soon as possible and also produce them in sufficient quantity. Although India’s AMCA program which is the 5th generation fighter jet is now showing speed but it needs to be given more speed.

And all this can be possible only when India completely develops its own jet engine as soon as possible, as you know India’s neighboring country China is now moving towards 6th generation fighter jet which gives an advantage to China and if China has such aircraft then it is obvious that Pakistan will also definitely use such fighter jets which can be a matter of concern for India.

Therefore it has now become necessary that India complete its Kaveri engine programme quickly and achieve whatever technical requirement it has by using the 5th and 6th gen fighter jets.