GTRE Proposes High-Altitude Engine Test Facility to Simulate Flight Conditions Above 40k Ft, Awaits ₹1600 Cr Funding from MoD

The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a leading laboratory under India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has proposed the establishment of a cutting-edge high-altitude engine test facility.

This facility would simulate conditions at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet, providing a crucial platform for rigorously testing and analyzing jet engine performance in environments that closely mirror real-world operational scenarios.

The proposed investment of ₹1600 crores would enable GTRE to conduct these critical tests domestically, eliminating the current reliance on foreign facilities like the Central Institute of Aviation Motors (CIAM) in Russia.

The lack of such a facility in India has been a significant obstacle in the development of indigenous jet engines, including the Kaveri engine and its variants, which are vital for projects like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

High-altitude testing is essential for evaluating engine performance, fuel efficiency, and operational stability under the extreme conditions encountered during high-altitude flight. Data from these tests are crucial for refining engine designs, ensuring reliability, and optimizing performance before engines are cleared for use in military aircraft.

Despite the clear strategic advantages, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has yet to approve the funding for this vital project. This delay has sparked debate within the defence community regarding India's commitment to self-reliance in aerospace technology.

Discussions on social media platforms like X reveal growing frustration among enthusiasts and experts who view this as a missed opportunity to reduce dependence on foreign facilities and accelerate the development of indigenous defence technologies.

Establishing this facility would have far-reaching benefits for India's aerospace sector. It would foster a culture of innovation, attract skilled personnel, and potentially create opportunities for commercial engine testing services, generating economic benefits.

Critics argue that the delay in funding reflects a broader hesitancy or bureaucratic inertia that could hinder India's ambitions to become a leader in aerospace technology. The need for high-altitude testing has been emphasized in numerous reports and discussions, with experts highlighting the strategic and operational disadvantages of not possessing such capabilities domestically.

The establishment of a high-altitude engine test facility would allow GTRE to accelerate the development of engines like the Kaveri, critical for powering India's next generation of fighter aircraft. The MoD's timely approval of this proposal would demonstrate a strong commitment to indigenous defence development and propel India towards its goal of becoming a global aerospace powerhouse.

 

[Admiral kanhoji angre]

GTRE doesn't come inside IAF, it's under MOD and GOI. It is not IAF job to setup labs.

IAF's job is not only to fly the planes but manage "security & resilience" of it's own supply chains.

Only lazy PPL treat it as authority issue. Navy does it regularly

 

[Varaaah]

There is enough money. Just stop all foreign exercises of the IAF, IN and IA for a while and then use that money for these kind of priority projects. But then, it is very very difficult not to behave as a chumcha of foreign powers and to control the greed of some high positioned people.

 

[Muthukumar Ponnambalam]

For sure they need such test facilities, as without such testing facilities, one can't qualify the engine.

BUT GTRE should be held fully accountable.

 

[Shanker]

Reject this request. Use Russian facility to test. Use Rs 1600/- crores for other development effort.

I second your opinion. We don't have any other engine being under development. Kaveri engine is tested once in a blue moon. This facility will remain idle gathering dust. Unless, developed countries refuse to test the Kaveri engine, there's no sense for building this facility!

 

[Dragon]

According to India's budget in 2021–22, its direct overseas aid stood at ₹18,154 crore (US$2.1 billion). As per the revised estimates for 2023-24, the Indian government provided ₹6,541.79 crore to foreign governments. This surpassed the budget estimates of ₹5,848.58 crore for 2023-24. The estimate for 2024-25 is 5,667.56 crore.

 

[RG]

Much need must facilities, as India's requirement grows, this would be very useful. Such a facility should be managed and shared with private sector as well, so the money and investment can be recuperated over many other products and the facility used to its maximum availability

 

[Ramesh Muthuramalingam]

Most of the readers seem to be ignorant about the cost of one engine, one aircraft, total expenses in testing one engine, number of times out engine failed in tests, time taken to test each engine, time wasted in redesigning the failed engine, GTRE's liking for using only karnataka based manufacturing company or company belonging to the relative of an influential person, the person who went to Russia to test the engine retiring as soon as he comes back home and most of all poor project planning.

Sad to find comments by people who had not even managed a tiny project worth just a crore.
The business value of the project runs into 100s of billions of dollars.. you want that kind value without investments?

 

[Foxbat]

The entire engine development should be shifted out of GTRE to a private sector. It cannot be a 9 to 5 job, after investing billions. The project is already delayed by about 3 decades. Sheer incompetence.

This investment is miniscule compared to the business value of the imports and the possible export business lost.

Stop the scientists from going to Russia for testing. Ignore the pessimists. Encourage investments. Create skills and capabilities. Make it inclusive and understand the value of time.

அருமையான பரிந்துரைகள்.

 

[P2S2]

If MoD hasn't approved the required funds set up High Altitude Engine Test Facility yet than what does the GoI emphasis on " Make in India" initiatives means? But the bureaucrats in GoI has been dragging their feet for donkey years to realise the imminent threats and need to urgently narrow the gap in declining number of fighter squadrons in the IAF and approve the fundings to procure long overdue 114 MRFA. If a two front war breaks out with china and pakistan our military without fewer fighter aircrafts the air force in particular is going to stretched thin and quickly worn out due to overworking.

Stupidity of not approving critical facilities for allowing in house defense equipment testing allows Indian moves to be broadcast to the world. The PM has to step in to allow India to be self sufficient in defense production. Others are increasing their costs and gaining at the expense of Indian inability.

 

[P2S2]

Thats the issue.. u all keep crying when we have no facility, nd then when they want, u cry on the costs..
every engine has to go through the Ground Testing before it can fly.. nd these are one time investments..
similarly upgrading an IL76 would need an additional 1500-2000Cr bcoz it has to be equipped with all types of sensors and machines to see how the engine is performing at variuos stages.. but these investments have to be made..

The facilities that test the engines learn new information while the owner gets billed for it. Secrecy is necessary to manage to overcome Indian backwardness. Ingenuity will be generated having hard facts and actual know how. At present all Indian capabilities are known to the facilities testing Indian technology. Basics of any technique is testing by yourselves. The number of failures and attempts create an import part that is critical to the ownership of that technology. The way China circumvented their frustrations of not being allowed access to engine technologies was by ditching the whole lot and using new forms of powering the engines thereby ownership of the whole system. Its too late for India to invent a new wheel so strict efficiency and ingenuity is the way to go. With actual adherence to testing available techniques and increasing their efficiencies is quite easily possible while the rest are involved in creating new technologies, India can start creation of new more efficient testing instruments, it has to become the leader in testing old technologies before it jumps to the front.