On the Drawing Board

Maneck Behramkamdin

As India celebrates its 79th Independence Day, we find ourselves reflecting not just on the freedom gained decades ago, but also on the technological sovereignty we are heading towards. One such frontier which is critical yet underdeveloped is the indigenous design and manufacturing of aero engines. Despite decades of progress in building aircraft, missiles, and launch vehicles, the heart of aerospace systems, the aero engine remains largely imported. Today, as we embrace the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, it is imperative that India turns its attention to mastering this pinnacle of aerospace engineering developing our own aero engines for defence and civil aviation.

Why Aero Engines are the Ultimate Engineering Challenge

Aero engines are among the most complex machines ever built. They operate at extreme temperatures, high rotational speeds, and require advanced materials and precision manufacturing that only a handful of nations have mastered. These engines determine an aircraft’s performance, range, and survivability—and yet, even after decades of development, India still imports its jet engines, including those that power our frontline fighter aircraft.

The Kaveri engine, conceptualized in the 1980s to power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, remains a case study in both ambition and the systemic hurdles of indigenous engine development. While the project yielded valuable lessons in metallurgy, fluid dynamics, and control systems, the engine fell short of thrust requirements, eventually being decoupled from the LCA programme. However, this should not be seen as failure, but as the foundation for the next leap. What Kaveri lacked in immediate success, it made up for in long-term capability building. Today, these learnings are being leveraged for future programmes—such as powering UAVs, trainers, and potentially, marine applications.

Manufacturing: The Engine Room of Self-Reliance

One of the biggest lessons from global engine programs is that design and R&D are only half the battle. Manufacturing capability is where the real challenge lies. Aero engines operate under extreme stress blades spinning at thousands of RPMs, temperatures exceeding 1,500 degree C, and tolerances measured in microns.

Building such components requires deep expertise in casting, precision machining, heat treatment, surface coatings, and now, additive manufacturing. India has made significant strides in some of these areas, but a coordinated, scale-driven push is needed to create a robust industrial ecosystem.

Public sector institutions like HAL and GTRE have laid a strong foundation in engine design and core R&D, but the baton must now be shared with the private sector to drive scale, agility, and innovation.

Companies like Godrej Enterprises Group are actively involved in collaborating and manufacturing with GTRE for indigenous programs and are also involved in programs with international engine houses for critical components such as turbine casings, high-temperature sheet metal assemblies, and machined structural parts. Some are even working on niche areas like additive manufacturing for high-performance engine parts, single-crystal blade manufacturing, and thermal barrier coatings.

More importantly, a growing number of private companies are entering into strategic partnerships with global OEMs as well as with DRDO and HAL to co-develop technologies, share IP frameworks, and create integrated supply chains. These collaborations are no longer vendor relationships; they are becoming innovation alliances.

A Call for Collaboration and Commitment

Aero engine development cannot be driven by one agency or one program. It requires a national mission mode, an ecosystem involving academia, R&D labs, MSMEs, and large industrial players. We need Centres of Excellence dedicated to turbine technology, long-term funding mechanisms, talent pipelines, and above all, a strategic commitment that matches our ambition. India’s track record in building complex systems from nuclear reactors to launch vehicles proves we are capable. What’s required now is continuity, collaboration, and a clear vision for the next 10–15 years.

A Way Forward: End-to-End Indigenous Capability

India needs to view aero engine development as a national mission akin to what ISRO achieved in space or what the nuclear and missile programmes have delivered. An end-to-end indigenous capability in aero engines would not only empower the armed forces but also enable India to become a global exporter of aviation platforms. The development of a new indigenous engine for the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) and initiatives to co-develop engines with foreign OEMs show great promise.

(The writer is EVP & business head, Aerospace business of Godrej Enterprises Group)