Netizens Call for "Fund Kaveri Engine" for True Self Reliance, Urging Sustained Govt Support Beyond Recent Funding

A significant online movement, identified by the hashtag #FundKaveriEngine, has gained major traction across India, reaching the top of trending topics on the social media platform X.

As of May 27, 2025, the campaign, which advocates for increased and sustained financial backing for India's indigenous Kaveri aero-engine program, has drawn widespread attention.

Thousands of posts from defence enthusiasts, analysts, and the general public underscore a collective call to prioritise this critical project, emphasising its strategic importance for developing homegrown engines for the nation's fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The Kaveri engine initiative, spearheaded by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bengaluru, an institution under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has been a long-standing and complex undertaking since its official launch in 1989.

Originally envisioned to power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the program encountered significant technical hurdles, primarily related to achieving the required thrust (the force that propels an aircraft forward) and managing the engine's overall weight. These challenges eventually led to the decision in 2008 to no longer designate the Kaveri as the primary engine for the Tejas.

However, recent advancements have renewed optimism. Notably, a derivative version, the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE), successfully demonstrated a dry thrust of 46-49 kilonewtons (kN) and received clearance for in-flight testing in 2024, signalling renewed potential for the indigenous design.

The current wave of public support for the #FundKaveriEngine campaign appears to have been significantly boosted by a recent announcement from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

On April 30, 2025, the Minister declared enhanced government funding aimed at accelerating the Kaveri program. This includes support for the Kaveri Derivative Engine, slated for the Ghatak stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle, and the proposed Kaveri 2.0 engine, which targets a more powerful 90kN of thrust.

Social media posts, such as one from the X account @IndiaWarMonitor, highlighted that the hashtag trended for several hours, securing the number one position in India with fewer than 40,000 posts, indicating a strong organic interest. Users like @Warlock_Shubh and @irrationalkidd stressed that broader public engagement could elevate the campaign's visibility among policymakers, urging influential X accounts to amplify the message.

This online advocacy reflects a growing public desire to see India achieve self-sufficiency in critical defence technologies and reduce its dependence on foreign-supplied engines.

Currently, aircraft like the Tejas utilise imported engines, such as the GE F404 and F414 from the United States. This reliance can subject India to geopolitical pressures and export control regimes, which can restrict or delay access to essential technology and spares.

X users, including @FinestYew, voiced concerns over previous decisions that may have limited funding for the Kaveri program, arguing that such moves have potentially impeded India's progress in aerospace capabilities and deepened its reliance on international suppliers.

This sentiment was shared by @alpha_defense, which pointed out that the Kaveri engine had achieved 73kN of thrust with its afterburner, despite operating with limited infrastructure, highlighting the project's inherent capabilities and the need for consistent investment.

The timing of the #FundKaveriEngine trend is particularly noteworthy, aligning with a period of heightened regional security concerns and recent successes by India in neutralising threats such as drones and rockets from across the border, reportedly using systems like the indigenous Akash and the Indo-Israeli MR-SAM air defence systems.

Furthermore, the DRDO's ongoing efforts to upgrade the Akash missile system with more advanced propulsion fuels illustrate India's continued commitment to enhancing its indigenous defence arsenal.

A fully developed and operational Kaveri engine could potentially power future versions of the Tejas fighter jet and the strategically important Ghatak UCAV. This would significantly lessen India's reliance on imported defence technology, bolster national security, and represent a major step towards true self-reliance in the critical aerospace sector.

 

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[ronaldc]

Urge DRDO chief Dr. Sameer Kamat to initiate a trust fund account where all can contribute for this R&D initiative. It's a truly national cause which we can deliver bypassing the western powers.

 

[sanket]

Nice. It is always better to have an indigenous option rather than depending on an unreliable foreign partner. You never know, wartime derailment of aero-engines or sanctions, as GE-404 is manufactured in the US. In the future, as a fighter jet requires 3.5 engines in its entire lifespan, it's a long time, maybe four to five decades of dependency on foreign engines, plus spares/components, apart from supply chain issues or production suspension. Sanctions may happen. Atmanirbhar is the only way.

In the next 7 to 9 years, we should have our own engine, at least for flying Tejas MK1A on an indigenous Kaveri engine. Given the fleet size of over 200 plus, the requirement is huge, over 800 engines for the lifetime of Tejas MK1A. Apart from Atmanirbhar, employment will be generated.

Already having a sour experience from GE-404 engine supply and it taking more time for ramping up production to 24 engines per year. First, the US cries for orders, and once they get them, they dilly-dally in fulfilling the orders. It's totally unprofessional from a well-known, established, experienced player with decades of ecosystem already established.

The Russian example is good; fighting a war on home-grown defence industry is better than fighting a war on NATO imported weapons, which, according to some comedian fools/jokers, are far more superior weapons but failed in the Ukraine war. Yesterday it was news that an Iskander Missile destroyed a Patriot system, a big blow for the US.

 

[Ronit@9977]

Finally, social media is getting used for something valuable for our nation 😍😍. Meanwhile, saying the program was a failure is not completely true. The derivative is capable of producing dry thrust enough to power the GHATAK UCAV. But, yes, the main goal to power Tejas has not been achieved yet. So, it's a partial success. Go on, GTRE.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Not only kaveri. We should aim to develop complete ecosystem. Start a program for developing engines for drones, trainer jets, helicopters, Saras, Dornier etc. Make a company with public pvt partnership which develops and manufactures jet engines only.

 

[jayesh patel]

Flying test bed is need of hour not sure why it is not there yet.

 

[Kira]

Finally, social media is getting used for something valuable for our nation 😍😍. Meanwhile, saying the program was a failure is not completely true. The derivative is capable of producing dry thrust enough to power the GHATAK UCAV. But, yes, the main goal to power Tejas has not been achieved yet. So, it's a partial success. Go on, GTRE.

True, instead of trying to power the Tejas, which is too late now, they should try to salvage the engine and try to power future variants of UAVs which India would need in larger numbers. If imported engines are to be used, then it will only increase the expenditures for those UAVs. Even a de-rated and less powerful variant of Kaveri can do for UAVs of the future.

It was always a tall ask to get the Kaveri engine right on the first attempt to power a manned fighter, which typically requires a reliable and trusted engine like the GE F-404/414.

Finally, India should think and play the long game by investing in a future-proof powerplant in partnership with Rolls Royce that services both immediate 5th Gen fighter needs as well as serving as a bedrock for engine development for decades to come, and this would and should involve the private sector in a big way if it has to see the light of the day.

 

[Sanjay Sharotri]

It is, or was, never about funds. It's technology which was intentionally derailed due to vested interests or vested parties, to allow for foreign imports. Need political will to get it done and get rid of vested parties involved who are derailing defence projects.

 

[Sandeep]

It’s important to note and say that the Kaveri engine for our fighter jet failed as it couldn’t produce the required amount of thrust. Still we are developing the dry Kaveri for the stealth UCAV Ghatak which is showing good progress. We are also developing the Kaveri Marine engine which is showing good progress so these two projects have a chance of success and being used and manufactured indigenously.

If India wants an indigenous engine then they will have to start a brand new engine development program. We should first start to develop a alternative to the F404 engine as it’s not going to be manufactured indigenously and with 200 jets and with about 40 years of service we will need to manufacture about 800 engines. So we should create a consortium of private companies and let them decide on the design, develop and manufacture the prototype engine that’s funded by the government.

 

[Pankaj]

Great. We must go for indigenous engine.... This is era where we can't trust any foreign companies and we ought to go for indigenous products. Govt must influx huge money to develop a dependable Jet engine in 4-5 years and also include private players for faster development.

 

[Muthukumar Ponnambalam]

WOW, one of my personal favourites gaining national attention.

Amazing.

I would love to see our IITs, IISc, etc. roll up their sleeves and join GTRE in contributing to the R&D efforts to plug the gaps/holes and achieve 110 kN thrust, matching F-414.

Without investing in creating our own high-end and critically high-tech and advanced products like a jet engine, India can't earn the respect of the developed countries, and they will only keep humiliating us.

 

[NemesisMB]

Privatise it rather than public funding. Public is already funding it through taxes. I love the sentiment, but it is a bad precedent. Private players are a must, don't know how govt is so blind not to realise this.

 

[Adolfp]

Fully agree to have a dedicated defence fund for investment of citizens.
These funds can be used to develop our own engines, rockets, missiles, sniper guns etc. Athmanibhar should be the bench mark

 

[Rajesh]

Govt should fund for all the test fecilities that drdo has requested for in developing an engine. Hope we develop faster and don't need to depend on others and develop the htfe25 and kaveri faster.