GTRE Acquires CNC Machines to Manufacture High-Thrust Jet Engine Components, But Import Reliance Raises Concerns

The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a crucial arm of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has acquired advanced Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to bolster its jet engine manufacturing capabilities.

This acquisition will significantly enhance GTRE's ability to produce intricate components for high-thrust jet engines, vital for projects like the indigenous Kaveri engine and other future developments.

CNC machines are essential for manufacturing high-precision jet engine components, including turbine blades, compressor rotors, and complex housings, from materials like titanium and nickel alloys.

GTRE's new CNC systems promise to improve both the capacity and quality of domestic production, bringing several key advantages:

• Enhanced Customization: CNC technology allows for greater design flexibility, enabling GTRE to tailor engines to specific requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Navy.
• Precision and Consistency: The advanced machines ensure high accuracy and consistency in component production, crucial for engine performance and reliability.
• Increased Production Rate: Automation and faster machining cycles will expedite the production of complex parts, streamlining the development process.

While this acquisition marks a significant step forward, these machines are primarily imported, mainly from the United States, underscores India's continued dependence on foreign technology for critical defence manufacturing. This dependence poses potential challenges to long-term self-reliance and could create vulnerabilities in the supply chain.

Recognizing this challenge, India has launched initiatives under the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) mission to promote domestic development of advanced machine tools. However, building the necessary research, engineering, and manufacturing infrastructure for high-end CNC technology, particularly for aerospace applications, remains a significant hurdle.

GTRE's acquisition of new CNC machines represents a notable advancement in India's pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing. However, it also serves as a reminder of the need to accelerate domestic development of critical technologies. By continuing to invest in indigenous CNC technology, India can reduce its reliance on imports and secure its defence manufacturing capabilities for the future.

 

[sanket]

This should have done decade ago, Even then GTRE manage to develp Engine which produces close to 80 kN without Test facilities/Test bed Aircrafts with peanuts of Funds Now things have been started changing with Good Industrial base compared to what it was, hopeful of some fruitful impact in future

 

[Instant Karma]

This should have done decade ago, Even then GTRE manage to develp Engine which produces close to 80 kN without Test facilities/Test bed Aircrafts with peanuts of Funds Now things have been started changing with Good Industrial base compared to what it was, hopeful of some fruitful impact in future

China has received advanced CNC and high-tech machines as gifts from Western nations after liberalizing its economy. Western nations, including Germany, the USA, and Japan, transferred manufacturing facilities for high-tech machines to China. Almost all high-tech machines, such as CT scans, MRIs, satellite parts, EV car components, smartphones, laptops, telecommunications equipment, drones, trains, and aviation equipment belonging to Western countries, are manufactured in China. Almost all Western high-tech companies now manufacture in China. China has used these machines to modernize its defense equipment manufacturing.

 

[Dr. Venkateswara Rao. Korasiga]

For everything we should not state US is unreliable. This is a manufacturing machine. Maintain well. It will work. Try to develop such machines indegenously. Give that job to able private sector.

 

[NSR]

GTRE must order two sets of all machinery, tools, and test equipment to manufacture GE F-414INS6 in India under 80% TOT license, and then use one set of them to develop and manufacture all Kaveri derivative fighter engines meeting same stringent internation standards to produce quality and reliable engines.

Best way to take to produce a quality and reliable fighter engine.

 

[sanket]

Almost all high-tech machines, such as CT scans, MRIs, satellite parts, EV car components, smartphones, laptops, telecommunications equipment, drones, trains, and aviation equipment belonging to Western countries, are manufactured in China.

Tunnel boring machine Factory too shifted to china

 

[jagan.g]

As Reaserch and Development in high tech defence sector is very capital intensive and failure rate is high, private sector whose resources are limited will avoid investing. Public sector with unlimited public money can invest. Therefore all PSUs do only research and development and leave final production to private sector.

 

[Instant Karma]

Tunnel boring machine Factory too shifted to china

Tunnel boring, escalators, lifts, passengers planes manufacturing, metro trains manufacturing, you name it and everything has been shifted to China. Foreign countries have learned very badly how dangerous it is to shift manufacturing facilities to China and that is why they are no more interested to do the same in India.
once bitten twice shy.

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

Are the machines 9th gen, 7th gen or 5th gen. Indian private sector had 5th gen machines. requirement was of 7th and 9th gen machines for high end precision manufacturing of parts.

 

[Sandeep]

This should have done decade ago, Even then GTRE manage to develp Engine which produces close to 80 kN without Test facilities/Test bed Aircrafts with peanuts of Funds Now things have been started changing with Good Industrial base compared to what it was, hopeful of some fruitful impact in future

Mate they had engine test facilities on the ground to measure the thrust levels and performance. Also they develop engines in stages. Before you need to test it on a flying test bed they need to secure its thrust levels, reliability and safety on the ground level for a start and based on its performance they can then test it on the test bed and slowly increase the altitude height. Also the engine has never reached a thrust level over 50-60kn and we haven’t developed an afterburner stage so far which is essential to have on a modern day fighter jet.

The problem is that the Kaveri engine was not ready until recently to reach that flying test bed stage. Recently they developed only a 50kn Kaveri engine which passed its high altitude simulation test and now they can test it on a flying test bed to monitor the performance and capabilities in Russia.

If we want to develop a higher thrust engine over 100kn then we can’t use the Kaveri engine at all. The best option would be to start developing a brand new engine from the start.

 

[Sandeep]

It’s great that we have received the machine as we would need it to manufacture the F414 engines and also maybe for our 5th jet engine that we will develop once a deal is signed with Safran.

Once we receive it we should learn more about the machine and how it’s designed, developed and manufactured along with the technology, software and capabilities. After that we should learn and develop our own indigenous next generation machine by reverse engineering it.

 

[P2S2]

Are the machines 9th gen, 7th gen or 5th gen. Indian private sector had 5th gen machines. requirement was of 7th and 9th gen machines for high end precision manufacturing of parts.

Public sector has to speed up the funding of machines and intensify research. Quality of tools is important as well as financing private sector projects. Indigenously created machines should be a priority.

 

[PARASHURAM]

Every new development in kaveri engine program is good for our national security. GTRE Keep it up. We hope more development in this regard.