Third Prototype of BEML's DATRAN 1500HP Engine to Undergo Rigorous Testing in UK Facilities, 1500 Hour Endurance Test Key

Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), a prominent player in India's defence and heavy engineering sectors, is making significant strides towards self-reliance in high-performance engine technology with its DATRAN 1500HP project.

The company has announced that the third prototype of this powerful engine will be sent to the UK for an extensive calibration and testing phase, marking a crucial step in India's journey towards indigenous defence manufacturing.

The DATRAN 1500HP engine, currently under development, will undergo a rigorous process in the UK, where it will be meticulously calibrated for optimal performance. This ensures the engine meets the demanding requirements of military applications, leveraging the advanced facilities and expertise available in the UK for such specialized tasks.

Following calibration, the engine will be subjected to a series of endurance tests at 400 hours, 600 hours, and culminating in a demanding 1500-hour test. These tests are crucial for assessing the robustness of the engine's design and identifying any potential weaknesses under prolonged operational conditions.

This testing phase not only focuses on the engine's durability but also aims to validate its performance in diverse and extreme conditions that may not be fully replicable within India's testing environments. By conducting these tests in the UK, BEML can ensure the engine's reliability and performance across a wider range of operational scenarios.

Upon successful completion of the calibration and endurance testing, BEML plans to initiate bulk manufacturing of the DATRAN 1500HP engine in India. This transition would represent a major advancement for BEML and India's defence sector, providing a domestic source for these powerful engines. These engines are crucial for various applications, including tanks, combat vehicles, and potentially even naval vessels.

The DATRAN 1500HP engine project highlights India's commitment to achieving self-reliance in critical defence technologies. By developing and manufacturing high-performance engines domestically, India strengthens its defence capabilities and reduces its dependence on foreign suppliers. This initiative also positions BEML as a key contributor to India's growing defence industrial base.

 

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[Blademaster]

Why do we need to send our engines to the UK? Why not test them in India?

 

[rajandhoni82]

We don't have test facilities for combat engines. This Engine is designed with the help of CVRDE(DRDO) lab. BEML is just a production unit. They are advertising like they are the design agency.They never mention anywhere CVRDE who funded for this project.

 

[sanket]

Very Good News, Needs to develop all Test facility as well

 

[swatkats_razor]

So BEML plans to send prototype of DATRAN 1500HP engine to UK for calibration and testing.

Tata already makes 1040 HP engines (developes in partnership with Cummins) in India, for its Prima line of trucks, destined for exports markets.

And somebody was suggesting we can leapfrog into manufacturing 6th gen aircraft.

Well, The biggest reason for the backwardness of defence manufacturing in India today are the numerous DPSUs.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

No harm in sending engine for fine tuning and calibration to an advanced country like UK as Bharat lacks infrastructure to do those tests.

 

[desigandu]

Why can’t test facilities be developed in Bharat for calibration and testing! We must invest in testing capabilities, test beds, wind tunnels etc., asap!

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Tata already makes 1040 HP engines (developes in partnership with Cummins) in India, for its Prima line of trucks, destined for exports markets.

Tata screw drives ~300HP engines from Cummins. Ashok leyland makes higher HP engines.

 

[swatkats_razor]

Tata screw drives ~300HP engines from Cummins.

They make 1000HP engines developed in collaboration with Cummins. They have been making them since 2017 for their upmarket Prima range of trucks.

Ashok leyland makes higher HP engines.

Ashok Leyland make great engines but the most powerful engine I could find developes by AL was in the 500 HP category.

Either way, my point is, these engines exist because there was a market for them in the burgeoning commercial vehicle space in India.

There is nothing stopping these vendors from developing 1500 class engines for defence requirements if there exists a market. There was absolutely no need to take DATRAN abroad for any testing or calibration. ARAI and IIT Kanpur have advanced engine development and testimg facilities in India itself, where they even approached?

 

[INDIAN]

Why we send our engines to foreign soils, isn't it a security threat.. why can't we develop our testing infrastructure here itself...

 

[abhinav srivastava]

They make 1000HP engines developed in collaboration with Cummins. They have been making them since 2017 for their upmarket Prima range of trucks.

Ashok Leyland make great engines but the most powerful engine I could find developes by AL was in the 500 HP category.

Either way, my point is, these engines exist because there was a market for them in the burgeoning commercial vehicle space in India.

There is nothing stopping these vendors from developing 1500 class engines for defence requirements if there exists a market. There was absolutely no need to take DATRAN abroad for any testing or calibration. ARAI and IIT Kanpur have advanced engine development and testimg facilities in India itself, where they even approached?

Validation by goras and foreign trip may be the reasons for doing validation tests abroad.
Apart from military req, small ships, subs and lage excavators may be railway locomotives may need engines for 1000Hp or more. This sector needs to be incentivised and promoted by govt so that companies develop and produce such engines in house. Scale of economies and job creation can be achieved in this sector.

 

[swatkats_razor]

Validation by goras and foreign trip may be the reasons for doing validation tests abroad.
Apart from military req, small ships, subs and lage excavators may be railway locomotives may need engines for 1000Hp or more. This sector needs to be incentivised and promoted by govt so that companies develop and produce such engines in house. Scale of economies and job creation can be achieved in this sector.

Ships and some submarines use turbine engines which few manufacturers have mastered. For ICE application in ships and submarine, space and weight is less of constraint, so mastering diesel engines for those applications would not be a major challenge.

Railway locomotives in India are mostly now turning to electricity for powering motors. Here also we are pretty self-sufficient with both sarkaari and Private sector players playing prodctive roles.

For tanks and earth mover, vehicles in tractor category, space and fuel efficiency (range) is a consideration, which makes making these engines somewhat complex affair. Nothing that would require the world's third largest automobile market and 4th largest automobile producer to be sending indigenous engines abroad for calibration and testing.

 

[kumar]

More more such articles only brings forward out pathetic test infrastructure. It is time to invest in test facilities.

 

[alpha numeric]

More more such articles only brings forward out pathetic test infrastructure. It is time to invest in test facilities.

It was time to invest in test facilities 20-30 years ago. At this point I'd be surprised if we can keep our territory in the event of a war

 

[Amit]

Why don't we develop such testing centers in India too? Same for Kaveri we send it to Russia..we need to now start testing things inside India.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

It was time to invest in test facilities 20-30 years ago. At this point I'd be surprised if we can keep our territory in the event of a war

It is better late than never. How could a poor country like India invest in test facilities 20 to 30 years ago when it can't do it now?