The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has established a strict 2026 deadline for the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to finalise the certification of the indigenous Dry Kaveri engine.
This propulsion system is viewed as the linchpin for the ambitious Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) project.
Senior officials indicate that meeting this timeline is a mandatory condition to secure final sanction from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) before the current financial approval cycle concludes.
Indigenous Propulsion as the Priority
The government has adopted a firm policy to align engine maturity with platform development to prevent the delays that have historically plagued Indian aerospace projects.According to sources, the MoD is determined to launch the Ghatak UCAV with the indigenous Dry Kaveri engine as its primary power plant from day one, ruling out any interim foreign engine solutions.
The Dry Kaveri, a non-afterburning derivative of the original Kaveri fighter jet engine, is rated at approximately 49 kN of thrust and is designed to support the UCAV's requirements for long-endurance and stealth missions.
Critical Trials in Russia
While design and fabrication work on the UCAV airframe continues, the immediate focus is on the engine's validation.The Dry Kaveri is scheduled for a crucial round of high-altitude flight trials in Russia aboard an Ilyushin Il-76 flying testbed.
These trials are essential to verify the engine's performance envelopes before it can be formally cleared for integration.
Successful completion of these tests by 2026 is the primary hurdle for the programme to move to the next stage of funding and full-scale development.
Industrial Partnership and Rollout Timelines
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been selected as the Development Cum Production Partner (DCPP) for the Ghatak programme, signalling a major role for the private sector in strategic defence manufacturing.If the CCS approval is granted on schedule in 2026, the programme anticipates rolling out the first 13-ton stealth prototype by late 2029 or early 2030.
The maiden flight is subsequently projected for late 2030 or early 2031.
The Ghatak is envisaged as a stealthy, deep-penetration strike platform capable of operating in high-risk environments with significant autonomy.
Future Validation on Tejas Platform
In addition to the UCAV track, the GTRE is planning a separate validation campaign using an older Tejas Limited Series Production (LSP) aircraft.This aircraft will serve strictly as a flying testbed to evaluate the Dry Kaveri engine's characteristics in a fighter airframe post-2030.
Officials clarified that this is solely for risk reduction and envelope expansion, and the Tejas LSP itself will not be deployed operationally with this engine configuration.
This synchronised approach underscores the MoD's intent to ensure that India’s flagship autonomous aviation programme is self-reliant and free from the propulsion bottlenecks that often stall complex defence initiatives.
