The project for design and development of Kaveri engine was sanctioned to achieve the interim flight standard for LCA ‘Tejas’ integration. Though the Kaveri engine was not fully meeting the requirement of LCA ‘Tejas’, it provided a platform for gas turbine technology development in the country.

            This project was the first indigenous aero-engine development project in the country. Besides, some of the reasons for delay in the project are:-

(i)                 Ab-initio development of state-of-the-art gas turbine technologies.

(ii)               Technical/technological complexities.

(iii)             Lack of availability of critical equipment & materials and denial of technologies by the technologically advanced countries.

(iv)              Lack of availability of test facilities in the country necessitating testing abroad.

(v)                Non availability of skilled/technically specialized manpower.

Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) associated itself with a premier scientific organisation of Russia i.e., Central Institute of Aviation Motors (CIAM) with an objective of fine tuning of Kaveri engine performance. This association brought GTRE per se Kaveri project in higher platform, resulting in successful completion of one major milestone i.e. altitude testing, simulating Kaveri engine performance at different altitude and Mach No. Subsequently, one of Kaveri prototype (K9) is being integrated with IL-76 aircraft at Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI), Russia for ground and flight tests, of Flying Test Bed (FTB) trials, this will be the second major milestone to be achieved. These two milestones would make ‘Kaveri engine flightworthy.

            The details of the funds allocated and utilized are as under:

            This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri C Rajendran in Lok Sabha today.

DM / RAJ