National Need..! Why is 'Fund Kaveri Engine' trending on X?

National Need..! Why is 'Fund Kaveri Engine' trending on X?

Hundreds of citizens, defense experts, and enthusiasts took to social media on Monday, urging the Indian government to prioritize and expedite the development of the Kaveri engine, a symbol of India's self-reliance in military aviation technology.

By promoting self-sufficiency in defense technology, the goal is to end India's dependence on foreign engines to manufacture fighter jets. 

As a result, 'Fund Kaveri Engine', reflecting the growing sentiment among the public, became the top trend on X. Emphasizing the importance of the Cauvery Engine in the interest of the country, many urged Prime Minister Modi to allocate more funds and resources.

#FundKaveriEngine – A Call for Self-Reliance

The Kaveri Engine project was India’s dream to build an indigenous fighter jet engine ,but it’s been stalled for years.

Even today, we rely on countries like the U.S. and France for fighter jet engines.

That’s a risk to our… pic.twitter.com/Ax0aMefnDN

— Shilpa Sahu (@shilpasahu432) May 26, 2025 

What is the Kaveri Engine Project?

The Kaveri engine is an indigenous jet engine developed by India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). According to DRDO, it is a low-bypass, twin-spool turbofan engine designed to produce 80 kN of thrust, and was initially intended to power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

The Kaveri engine has a flat-rated design to reduce thrust loss in high-temperature and high-speed conditions. Its dual-lane Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system ensures precise control, with a manual backup for greater reliability. This design enables the engine to maintain optimum performance under various operating conditions.

The project, which began in the 1980s, was intended to reduce India's reliance on foreign engines for its fighter jets, but faced challenges such as thrust reductions, weight issues, and delays caused by sanctions following India's nuclear tests in 1998. Although it was spun off from the Tejas program in 2008, a derivative version is currently being developed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the Ghatak Stealth UCAV, with recent progress in in-flight testing and private sector involvement, such as Godrej Aerospace providing engine modules.

Reasons for the delay..?

The Kaveri engine project has faced significant delays and setbacks due to various challenges. These include the complexity of developing new technologies such as aerothermal dynamics, metallurgy and control systems. Western sanctions denied critical materials such as single-crystal blades, while India lacked skilled manpower and high-altitude testing facilities and relied on foreign equipment such as Russia's CIAM. Unrealistic expectations, such as powering the Tejas fighter jet without validation, and the breakdown of international cooperation with SNECMA further complicated the project.