Fund Kaveri Engine Trends as India Pushes for Indigenous Jet Engine Technology

What is the Kaveri Engine and why is #FundKaveriEngine trending on social media?

The Kaveri Engine is an indigenous jet engine initiative led by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a lab under India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is described as a low-bypass twin-spool turbofan engine with a thrust class of 80 kN.

On May 26, the hashtag #FundKaveriEngine trended widely on social media as citizens, defence analysts, and aviation enthusiasts voiced support for completing the Kaveri Engine project. The viral trend highlighted a growing national call for the Indian government to prioritize and expedite this crucial defense technology, which symbolizes India’s goal of achieving self-reliance in aerospace engine development.

Social media users poured in their sentiments through memes, posters, and appeals. One user, Abhay, commented, “Nirmala Sitharaman ji, take 20% GST on caramel popcorn instead of 18%, but please fund the Kaveri Engine.” Another user, Krishnan, appealed to fund a flying testbed for the project. Akshit requested Prime Minister Modi to support the project in national interest, while an account named Dharmic Aeroplate v2 even called for crowdfunding. Prominent journalist and defence analyst Shiv Aroor also lent his voice to the campaign.

🛩️ What is the Kaveri Engine?

Conceived in the late 1980s, the Kaveri Engine project was initiated to power India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Although the Tejas Mk-1 currently uses GE’s F-404 engine, the indigenous Kaveri project was never shelved. Instead, it evolved to support future platforms like the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), and potentially naval vessels.

The Kaveri is a two-spool bypass turbofan engine incorporating technologies such as a full annular combustor, transonic compressors, and directionally solidified turbine blades. The engine has undergone more than 3,000 hours of rigorous testing, including high-altitude trials and integration with marine platforms.

Recent advancements include the use of single-crystal turbine blades, polymer matrix composites, and a redesigned fan optimized for stealth aircraft, all aimed at enhancing thrust-to-weight ratio and thermal efficiency.

⚙️ Why the delay?

Despite being technologically promising, the Kaveri Engine has encountered several delays. One of the major hurdles was the complexity of developing a jet engine from scratch, involving advanced fields like aerothermal dynamics, control systems, metallurgy, and material sciences—all areas in which India had limited prior expertise.

Adding to the challenge, Western nations repeatedly denied India access to essential technologies such as single-crystal blade manufacturing and high-performance superalloys. A shortage of skilled manpower and lack of critical infrastructure—especially high-altitude testing facilities—further slowed progress, forcing reliance on foreign labs like Russia’s CIAM and creating logistical issues.

Early expectations were also misaligned with reality. The plan to equip the Tejas with the Kaveri engine before intermediate validation was premature. Initial configurations could only produce 70–75 kN of thrust, well below the 90–100 kN needed for a frontline fighter, leading to its delinking from the Tejas programme and a shift in focus toward AMCA and UCAVs.

International collaboration setbacks further complicated the project. A proposed partnership with French firm Snecma fell through in 2013 after it became clear that Snecma only intended to offer its Eco Core to replace Kaveri’s heart, rather than transfer cutting-edge engine technology. India insisted on full technological capability and walked away from the deal.

Despite past setbacks, the project has recently shown signs of revival. New developments include indigenous afterburner technology in collaboration with BrahMos Aerospace, blisk components, and advanced thermal coatings. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also confirmed ongoing talks with major global players like GE, Rolls-Royce, and Safran to bridge capability gaps while ensuring India retains technological sovereignty over the Kaveri engine.

As India moves toward fifth-generation fighter development, the success of the Kaveri Engine is now viewed as a strategic imperative rather than just a technological milestone. The ongoing military Operation Sindoor, launched after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, has further galvanized public sentiment to fund and complete this critical indigenous project—highlighting the urgency of reducing reliance on foreign suppliers in future military aviation needs.

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