MIDHANI Completes Around 50% of 120kN AMCA Engine Alloys with 80% Already Certified, Potentially Reducing Import Dependence

In a significant boost to India's pursuit of self-reliance in military aviation, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) has successfully formulated approximately 50 percent of the specialised alloy systems needed for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) engine.

This upcoming 120kN high-thrust powerplant is slated for the AMCA Mk-2 stealth fighter and is being co-developed through a strategic joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) and French aerospace manufacturer Safran.

Program insiders reveal that of the alloy variants MIDHANI has produced so far for this advanced engine, almost 80 percent have already secured official clearance from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC).

This crucial certification guarantees that the homegrown materials comply with the rigorous safety and performance criteria demanded by modern military aerospace applications.

The rest of the newly developed alloys are currently progressing through rigorous testing phases prior to their final approval.

At the heart of this metallurgical breakthrough is the creation of high-performance superalloys designed to survive the punishing environment within a turbofan jet engine.

MIDHANI has successfully achieved series production certification for its advanced nickel-based—such as the recently unveiled SN-41—and cobalt-based superalloys.

These specialised metals are absolutely vital for fabricating critical hot-section components like turbine blades and discs, which face immense heat and physical stress during supersonic flight.

Mastering the production of these superalloys is a monumental achievement for India’s domestic aerospace industry.

Modern fighter engines are marvels of complex engineering, relying entirely on the availability of cutting-edge materials that can maintain their structural strength and shape while spinning at massive speeds in temperatures well over 1,000 degrees Celsius.

To ensure the AMCA engine timeline remains on track, MIDHANI has heavily modernised its manufacturing facilities.

A standout upgrade is the installation of a 6,000-ton near-isothermal forge press. This massive piece of industrial equipment is indispensable for the precise shaping and forging of high-strength alloys into complex, heavy-duty aero-engine structures, particularly the central turbine discs.

Furthermore, the state-run enterprise has enhanced its vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnaces to enable the creation of single-crystal superalloys.

These highly refined materials are the global standard for next-generation turbine blades due to their unmatched resistance to thermal fatigue.

By incorporating single-crystal technology, the future AMCA engine will be able to run hotter, thereby generating greater thrust and maximising fuel efficiency.

Historically, India’s aerospace and defence sectors have been forced to import roughly 70 to 80 percent of their specialised metallurgical requirements.

The successful domestic production of these critical 120kN engine alloys will drastically cut this foreign dependency.

Ultimately, this self-reliance will drive down the overall costs of India’s future combat aircraft programs while heavily insulating the national defence supply chain from global disruptions.

 

[samresh]

Ye hum sab ka sapna sach kab hoga

 

[Dranzer Knight]

Ye hum sab ka sapna sach kab hoga

Considering the govt gave approval to new engine testing facility which also includes high altitude test facility our dream will soon come true brother

 

[Krishna with flute]

We are at the critical stage of Development of these critical alloys. Design a plan to complete its development and ensure how the critical path can be shortened. Fund the project, complete the development hazel free development. Involve colleges and major companies like L & T and Kalyani.

 

[el gordo]

India almost on the brink of achieving many critical milestones in defense technology, so patience is the key ,

 

[sunnyp343]

Ye kab hoga bhai. It is also my dream that India make a magnificent fighter engine.

 

[Krishna with flute]

India almost on the brink of achieving many critical milestones in defense technology, so patience is the key ,

Yes, but it should be ensured that project achieves its ultimate goal and not lost or delayed after reaching its conclusive stage. We have many anti national seating in higher positions to push the agenda of west and China. They tried to sabotage Tejas program as well at the time of its completion. At that time, ratan Tata told that if Tejas Program is abandoned, he will take it over. We have many Dalals.

 

[Krishna with flute]

India has all the potential to be the super power of science and technology but where is the budget? Start spending 3 times the current amount and a miracle will happen in 3 years. We have a very short cited government in center. All ministers and bureaucrats are slave Modi. BJP is a bit refined version of congress and nothing more.

 

[Dread]

India has all the potential to be the super power of science and technology but where is the budget? Start spending 3 times the current amount and a miracle will happen in 3 years. We have a very short cited government in center. All ministers and bureaucrats are slave Modi. BJP is a bit refined version of congress and nothing more.

You have no idea what Congress was ... You are possibly born after 2000. They did scams not just in 2G, Coal, Adarsh housing, commonwealth games scam etc. but also in defense procurements like Bofors and AgustaWestland choppers.

As for "spending more" where do you think the money will come from? How will govt afford money for roads, infrastructure, public services, salaries and pensions, medical care, public education, etc. It seems you do not know that the budget is bifurcated into various areas of interest.

This govt has already increased its military budget continuously year on year. The budget is allocated from the earnings in taxes and that won't increase untill the people do more, earn more and pay more taxes.

And before your Rahul Gandhi brain says "Govt can simply print more money" ... Printing more money boosts inflation. So your currency's value diminishes.

PS: Bureaucrats in India are particularly Congress favouring. As they could earn from bribes, etc more so under their establishment. That's why Congress says, "Govt might be yours but the system is ours".

That's what the fight is against. BJP vs Bureaucracy.

 

[Pankajrai]

Very encouraging news. Proud of Midhani works.

 

[Krishna with flute]

You have no idea what Congress was ... You are possibly born after 2000. They did scams not just in 2G, Coal, Adarsh housing, commonwealth games scam etc. but also in defense procurements like Bofors and AgustaWestland choppers.

As for "spending more" where do you think the money will come from? How will govt afford money for roads, infrastructure, public services, salaries and pensions, medical care, public education, etc. It seems you do not know that the budget is bifurcated into various areas of interest.

This govt has already increased its military budget continuously year on year. The budget is allocated from the earnings in taxes and that won't increase untill the people do more, earn more and pay more taxes.

And before your Rahul Gandhi brain says "Govt can simply print more money" ... Printing more money boosts inflation. So your currency's value diminishes.

PS: Bureaucrats in India are particularly Congress favouring. As they could earn from bribes, etc more so under their establishment. That's why Congress says, "Govt might be yours but the system is ours".

That's what the fight is against. BJP vs Bureaucracy.

I am not born after 2000. I am in my fifties. I have seen all corruption of congress and has remained a strong supporter of BJP till the Noopur Sharma Episode. BJP is made a version of Congress by Modi, May be a bit refined. Corruption is rampant. Anti nationals have become more strong. Those who are not psychopaths are side lined.

If you want to develop as a technologically advance nation, you need to spend certain share on Research and development. Look the China. Our previous governments had no vision nor current government has. R&D budget is so miniscule that even if it is increased by 5 times, it will not have any impact on economy. ISRO's budget is just 1.5 BN USD today. Imagine it is made 5 bn USD, what impact will it have on 5 tr USD economy. Infact, ISRO will provide many more return on investment in next few years. Had we spend even 1 bn USD on engine few years ago, we wouldn't be importing GE engines today and our Tejas Program wouldn't have been delivered. You can blame previous governments only for first 5 years and not after 12 years. This government is only as good as congress on policies and decisions except the foreign policy which is quite good. This government has successfully checked the best information. Riots and bomb blasts are in Check. In rest of the matter, it is as good as congress.

 

[Sun Beam]

The 80+KN & 90+KN should come out successfully immediately....... Good outcome.....

 

[Krishna with flute]

The 80+KN & 90+KN should come out successfully immediately....... Good outcome.....

But how.? No testing facilities are ready. 50% of the required alloys are not ready.

 

[Dread]

I am not born after 2000. I am in my fifties. I have seen all corruption of congress and has remained a strong supporter of BJP till the Noopur Sharma Episode. BJP is made a version of Congress by Modi, May be a bit refined. Corruption is rampant. Anti nationals have become more strong. Those who are not psychopaths are side lined.

If you want to develop as a technologically advance nation, you need to spend certain share on Research and development. Look the China. Our previous governments had no vision nor current government has. R&D budget is so miniscule that even if it is increased by 5 times, it will not have any impact on economy. ISRO's budget is just 1.5 BN USD today. Imagine it is made 5 bn USD, what impact will it have on 5 tr USD economy. Infact, ISRO will provide many more return on investment in next few years. Had we spend even 1 bn USD on engine few years ago, we wouldn't be importing GE engines today and our Tejas Program wouldn't have been delivered. You can blame previous governments only for first 5 years and not after 12 years. This government is only as good as congress on policies and decisions except the foreign policy which is quite good. This government has successfully checked the best information. Riots and bomb blasts are in Check. In rest of the matter, it is as good as congress.

You do understand you can't simply allot more money in R&D and see the results. There needs to be an ecosystem. For example, what this govt has done by transferring the development of AMCA to private sector... Now these private players don't have prior experience in building fighter jet. Sourcing their parts etc. require more smaller companies. Building this ecosystem requires time and continuous funding.

And I get your frustration on Nupur Sharma case. Even UGC, and many others. This govt has fumbled a lot. No doubt. But what's the option? Congress certainly won't care one bit. Do we need a better party? Perhaps. Or maybe we need to guide the govt on what we need.

Also, the work on jet engines has been going on for too long. It is not an easy tech to master, unlike rocket engines which are used once and discarded... These have to work continuously again and again. Without fault. Such reliability comes after testing for long durations. And we have been trying to get other nations to assist us, but to no avail. This is like nuclear tech... Closely guarded secret. Since kaveri has not been upto the requirement, it is a success nevertheless. And expected to be used in Ghatak UCAV.

Although I do agree about what you said about ISRO... I love astrophysics and everything about space. But all that aside, the geopolitical tensions have increased these days, and it is of utmost importance to focus more on military than anything else. Hence the budget increase in that sector.

PS: Kaveri engine hasn't failed by much though. It generates 47 KN dry thrust and 79 KN with afterburner. The GE404 that Tejas uses generates 54KN dry and 84 with afterburner. It is indeed a success.

 

[Krishna with flute]

You do understand you can't simply allot more money in R&D and see the results. There needs to be an ecosystem. For example, what this govt has done by transferring the development of AMCA to private sector... Now these private players don't have prior experience in building fighter jet. Sourcing their parts etc. require more smaller companies. Building this ecosystem requires time and continuous funding.

And I get your frustration on Nupur Sharma case. Even UGC, and many others. This govt has fumbled a lot. No doubt. But what's the option? Congress certainly won't care one bit. Do we need a better party? Perhaps. Or maybe we need to guide the govt on what we need.

Also, the work on jet engines has been going on for too long. It is not an easy tech to master, unlike rocket engines which are used once and discarded... These have to work continuously again and again. Without fault. Such reliability comes after testing for long durations. And we have been trying to get other nations to assist us, but to no avail. This is like nuclear tech... Closely guarded secret. Since kaveri has not been upto the requirement, it is a success nevertheless. And expected to be used in Ghatak UCAV.

Although I do agree about what you said about ISRO... I love astrophysics and everything about space. But all that aside, the geopolitical tensions have increased these days, and it is of utmost importance to focus more on military than anything else. Hence the budget increase in that sector.

PS: Kaveri engine hasn't failed by much though. It generates 47 KN dry thrust and 79 KN with afterburner. The GE404 that Tejas uses generates 54KN dry and 84 with afterburner. It is indeed a success.

Your ecosystem example is incorrect. Ecosystem comes into picture only at the time of supply of parts at the time of production. Safran had offered to make Kaveri operational by helping in R&D as a part of offset clause. Russia has also made offer so as Rolls Royce . Neither we accepted any offer nor we focused on R&D. We still lack many research facilities necessary for engine testing.

 

[Sun Beam]

You do understand you can't simply allot more money in R&D and see the results. There needs to be an ecosystem. For example, what this govt has done by transferring the development of AMCA to private sector... Now these private players don't have prior experience in building fighter jet. Sourcing their parts etc. require more smaller companies. Building this ecosystem requires time and continuous funding.

And I get your frustration on Nupur Sharma case. Even UGC, and many others. This govt has fumbled a lot. No doubt. But what's the option? Congress certainly won't care one bit. Do we need a better party? Perhaps. Or maybe we need to guide the govt on what we need.

Also, the work on jet engines has been going on for too long. It is not an easy tech to master, unlike rocket engines which are used once and discarded... These have to work continuously again and again. Without fault. Such reliability comes after testing for long durations. And we have been trying to get other nations to assist us, but to no avail. This is like nuclear tech... Closely guarded secret. Since kaveri has not been upto the requirement, it is a success nevertheless. And expected to be used in Ghatak UCAV.

Although I do agree about what you said about ISRO... I love astrophysics and everything about space. But all that aside, the geopolitical tensions have increased these days, and it is of utmost importance to focus more on military than anything else. Hence the budget increase in that sector.

PS: Kaveri engine hasn't failed by much though. It generates 47 KN dry thrust and 79 KN with afterburner. The GE404 that Tejas uses generates 54KN dry and 84 with afterburner. It is indeed a success.

I do go by you..... I never underestimate private sector companies as they are the basic building blocks of the Govt. R&D organisations..... Without them Govt organisations can't bring out the success.....

Giving AMCA to private sector is not a concern to us.... But have they worked out in the past like HAL & DRDO or GTRE regarding the development of these complex aero engineering machines in all areas like R&D, Material Science, Computational sciences, Software development kit etc., it goes on & no end?

Blindly crying that Pvt. Sector can do wonder will bring in all the turmoil & hence the AMCA project might be a total failure at the last moment of the project completion......

Private sectors are certainly required as they can help in every area or in all areas but only to their required levels......

L&T was behind BHEL for each & everything to construct the GIPCL Boiler(second unit) at Naani Naroli in Gujarat in the year 2000.....

If someone wants to actually develope AMCA, let them start from the scratch which will atleast take three decades together...... AMCA is in it's finalization stage..... Now taking other's efforts is not a worthy action......

 

[Krishna with flute]

You do understand you can't simply allot more money in R&D and see the results. There needs to be an ecosystem. For example, what this govt has done by transferring the development of AMCA to private sector... Now these private players don't have prior experience in building fighter jet. Sourcing their parts etc. require more smaller companies. Building this ecosystem requires time and continuous funding.

And I get your frustration on Nupur Sharma case. Even UGC, and many others. This govt has fumbled a lot. No doubt. But what's the option? Congress certainly won't care one bit. Do we need a better party? Perhaps. Or maybe we need to guide the govt on what we need.

Also, the work on jet engines has been going on for too long. It is not an easy tech to master, unlike rocket engines which are used once and discarded... These have to work continuously again and again. Without fault. Such reliability comes after testing for long durations. And we have been trying to get other nations to assist us, but to no avail. This is like nuclear tech... Closely guarded secret. Since kaveri has not been upto the requirement, it is a success nevertheless. And expected to be used in Ghatak UCAV.

Although I do agree about what you said about ISRO... I love astrophysics and everything about space. But all that aside, the geopolitical tensions have increased these days, and it is of utmost importance to focus more on military than anything else. Hence the budget increase in that sector.

PS: Kaveri engine hasn't failed by much though. It generates 47 KN dry thrust and 79 KN with afterburner. The GE404 that Tejas uses generates 54KN dry and 84 with afterburner. It is indeed a success.

I am not saying that increase the budget from tomorrow. A detailed plan should be worked out for robust infrastructure of R & D. I remember that when Kalam Sir was DRDO head, he had said that if fund is allocated, development work of civilian aircraft may be started. Saras is in development for years. We hear some news every 2-3 years. our HTFE 25 is in making for 2 decades without being operational. The fact of the matter is that we are unable to operationalize one sh**ty 16-to-18-seater plane for 4 decades. What you argue here is called excuses. Unless any project reaches fruition, what is the meaning of hyping and giving fake figures. What is the use of those 47 KN? Can you use it in Tejas? Those 47 KN and 79 KN has no meaning unless it is used in Tejas. Your argument is like a typical sarkari babu who tries to discover reason to celebrate in every failure.