Tech Desk: India’s ambition for self-reliant aerospace technology faced a major setback when the Kaveri engine project was critically delinked from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, a former DRDO scientist warns. Ravi Kumar Gupta labels this historic decision a “critical error,” asserting it severely stifled funding and pushed indigenous Kaveri engine development to the brink of collapse. The bureaucratic hurdles for the next-gen Kaveri 2.0 ironically now take longer than the actual technological work.

The Kaveri program, developed by GTRE, was only recently saved by the success of its non-afterburning ‘dry’ variant, which achieved 48.5 kN thrust during high-altitude trials in Russia. This breakthrough dry engine is now set to power India’s Ghatak stealth UCAV. Gupta emphasizes that India currently possesses a stronger technological base than ever, urging formal government sanction for the Kaveri 2.0, targeting an 80-90 kN thrust class.

Such a powerful engine could strategically replace the imported GE F404s in the Tejas Mk1A fleet, crucial given persistent supply chain delays. However, successful integration demands meticulous adherence to weight, fuel consumption, and reliability standards. Furthermore, Gupta highlights the critical lack of domestic aero-engine testing facilities, forcing reliance on foreign infrastructure and causing prolonged delays even when technology is ready. This infrastructural bottleneck remains a significant hurdle for future Kaveri engine development.