How Indigenous Engines for Tanks, Fighter Jets, and Naval Vessels Are Key to India's Full Self-Reliance Goals

India's pursuit of defence modernization is essential for maintaining strategic autonomy and bolstering national security. However, a critical gap remains in the domestic development of propulsion systems for its armed forces.

Currently, India heavily relies on imports for engines powering its tanks, fighter jets, and naval vessels, creating a dependence on foreign suppliers that hinders India's quest for complete self-reliance in defence.

Developing indigenous engines is paramount to achieving this goal. Relying on foreign suppliers can leave India vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, geopolitical pressures, and potential delays in procurement, jeopardizing the availability of critical defence assets. Indigenous engine development would give India complete control over design, production, and maintenance, ensuring uninterrupted access to these vital components.

Furthermore, imported engines are expensive, not just in terms of initial procurement but also for long-term maintenance and spare parts. Developing local engines can significantly reduce costs and ensure a consistent and affordable supply of replacements, contributing to greater self-sufficiency and budgetary control.

Domestic engine development also allows for customization to meet the specific needs of India's armed forces, whether it's tailoring engines for high-altitude performance in fighter jets, extended endurance for naval vessels, or other specialized requirements. This adaptability is crucial for ensuring operational effectiveness in diverse environments and scenarios.

Investing in indigenous engine development not only strengthens India's defence capabilities but also stimulates growth in its defence ecosystem. It creates jobs, fosters innovation, and boosts exports, contributing to the country's economic development while reducing the outflow of foreign exchange.

While India has made progress in engine development, with programs like the Kaveri engine and advancements in high-end alloys by MIDHANI, a focused and sustained effort is needed to overcome existing challenges and build a robust ecosystem for indigenous engine production. This requires continued investment in research and development, infrastructure, and skilled workforce development.

By prioritizing indigenous engine development, India can achieve true self-reliance in defence, enhance its operational capabilities, strengthen its position in the global defence industry, and contribute to its economic growth and technological advancement.

 

[R. Singh]

This can be possible if DRDO set up reverse engineering department for key technologies !

 

[Rohan Oriya]

I have faith on my country's high end technology development capabilities,
just the government must ensure that the whole process of developing an engine is streamlined and funds must be given in adequate amount to make the engine to compete at the global stage.

 

[GabbarSinghYoddha]

The Indian government must give a top priority to this critical technology matter and as a first step should establish an Indian Institute of Advanced Engine Technology (IIAET).

This Institute should offer specialised study programs in Jet engine tech, Marine Engine tech for ships / submarines, rocket engines for space vehicles, tank engines, engines for heavy trucks to carry mobile missiles, hypersonic missiles engines, drone engines, helicopter engines, etc.

India must become self-sufficient in these critical technologies to meet not only local needs, but also should export such Indian manufactured engines.

 

[Kamal Gupta]

Having no dearth to the finest technical brains within the country, it is certainly surprising that we are not able to produce such engines till date for the past 40+ years. I don't remember, any govt, including the present one, hesitated or dithered to provide required funds for the Kaveri engine project.
So, there is something amiss in the whole process. Adherence to the timeline in almost all projects, has always been a casualty. No accountability for the same has made the system rot.
Things can look up, if the Organisations involved in the critical areas including Defence be monitored by the PMO directly, bypassing the bureaucratic hurdles. Apart from fixing responsiblity, funds required in contingency beyond budget will flow unhindered. This is the model worth trying.

 

[Sathish Kumaram]

We have talent and all the right kind of stuff. We need to ensure the healthy PHD road map for the doctoral canditates and also orient them towards the right direction.. developing the software for the analysis or developing the methodology and process improvements..

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

India now has 21 IITs, almost 20 NIITs, a few dozen very good engineering colleges, IISc, and engine companies like Kirloskars, Cummins, MAN, Volvo Penta, Wartsila, Kawasaki, Hyundai, and Korean companies, DRDO, and GTRE. These institutes for research and design now need to be integrated into an engine development, testing, production, and maintenance cluster set up in Karnataka, Maharashtra, or Tamil Nadu, where aero engines, ship and submarine engines, and ground vehicle engines for use in tanks, FICVs, heavy trucks, and small and medium vehicles are designed, produced, tested, and maintained by in-house public-private entities.

 

[Amit]

Government has to invest money on aero engine there is no cheaper or smarter way to bypass it. We did make a new engine for tanks 1500 HP engine which is being tested hope all test goes through easily. That said, we need to stay invested in newer technologies w.r.t engines to stay afloat.

 

[parimal vaikuthray Pandya]

Having no dearth to the finest technical brains within the country, it is certainly surprising that we are not able to produce such engines till date for the past 40+ years. I don't remember, any govt, including the present one, hesitated or dithered to provide required funds for the Kaveri engine project.
So, there is something amiss in the whole process. Adherence to the timeline in almost all projects, has always been a casualty. No accountability for the same has made the system rot.
Things can look up, if the Organisations involved in the critical areas including Defence be monitored by the PMO directly, bypassing the bureaucratic hurdles. Apart from fixing responsiblity, funds required in contingency beyond budget will flow unhindered. This is the model worth

 

[Sathish Kumaram]

The Indian government must give a top priority to this critical technology matter and as a first step should establish an Indian Institute of Advanced Engine Technology (IIAET).

This Institute should offer specialised study programs in Jet engine tech, Marine Engine tech for ships / submarines, rocket engines for space vehicles, tank engines, engines for heavy trucks to carry mobile missiles, hypersonic missiles engines, drone engines, helicopter engines, etc.

Could use the Army engineering college, in Pune, with extended research facility/test lab for the engine development. Can take the consultancy of professors from IIT or experts available in the field.

 

[parimal vaikuthray Pandya]

There was frequently commented on quality of the pass out of the institutions you refer here over the years and getting reported to get low wages as much as four lakh per year nowadays or unemployment what they prefer

 

[parimal vaikuthray Pandya]

Who will care of getting indigenous production when it's very easy to get money from any scam to get away from the country at will afterwards to avoid any legal action? and getting easy to infiltrate government jobs with no accountability and getting big money corruption and luxurious life effortlessly

 

[Sandeep]

This article is absolutely correct as our biggest weakness throughout the military is not being able to design, develop and manufacture 100% of the engine. Without engines our military is useless and it’s only until recently that we have started to develop some of our engines with some success and failures. Currently some are undergoing a number of tests and getting certified but in other areas we haven’t even started to develop it.

The private sector should develop partnerships with DRDO as they will have more talented staff with knowledge, experience, education and skills that DRDO can’t always afford to employ. If the private sector can develop an engine by itself then it should develop it by itself.

 

[Percy kakalia]

We indian should research & develop, invest in all types of different form of nano propulsion to a mega propulsion and combined the different types of propulsion with each other with an regenerative energy create in an effective way as well as efficient way. Relaying on current fuels and propulsion would not solve the problem. But would consume more time & energy. Regenerative is the next step to harvest energy and transform into other types of resourceful output.

 

[Steve Tucker.]

I don't know why India doesn't apply to join NGAD with Britain, Italy and Japan. With the right investment and technology transfers built into the deal this could be nothing but a win win scenario. It would skip the level 5 and go straight in at level 6. Money talks, Britain loves India (they even had an Hindu prime minister) and what's more important they're the project leaders but broke Steve Tucker

 

[Foxbat]

The article is very correct in its opinion and valuable information. I couldn't agree more with the writer Raghav Patel and credit goes to his extensive knowledge in Indian defence development. I share the same thoughts with the writer.