In a candid admission, DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat acknowledged that developing the Kaveri engine concurrently with the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft was a "rookie mistake."
This approach, he explained, is atypical in the aerospace industry, where platforms are usually designed around existing engines. Engine development, he stressed, is a long and complex process, often taking 15-20 years.
To mitigate future risks and expedite the development of next-generation high-thrust engines, the DRDO is actively seeking collaborations with international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
Safran from France, Rolls-Royce from the UK, and General Electric from the US are among the potential partners. Importantly, both Safran and Rolls-Royce have assured that the intellectual property generated during any collaborative development will remain with India, bolstering the country's indigenous capabilities.
Kamat also emphasized the need for greater collaboration between academia, the DRDO, and the industry, highlighting the current siloed approach as a hindrance to progress. He further stressed the importance of capacity-building, noting that many Indian engineers lack the skills required for cutting-edge R&D work.
India, Kamat pointed out, lags behind many countries in traditional technologies. He believes that by focusing on disruptive technologies, India can leapfrog and catch up. He also spoke about India's growing appetite for risk, citing the Ministry of Defence's approval of the Technology Development Fund (TDP) for funding high-risk, high-reward projects.
Kamat concluded by highlighting the need for increased R&D spending and a larger defence budget, comparing India's minuscule 0.65% of GDP spending in the sector to the US's 2.83% and China's 2.14%.
The DRDO's future plans include high-endurance autonomous vehicles, indigenous conventional submarines, infantry combat vehicles, robotic soldiers, and more. A light tank is currently in the prototype stage and is expected to be delivered to the Indian Army by 2027.
