Kaveri Jet Engine Project

ongoing with limited test flights

The Kaveri engine project, started in 1986 in India, aimed to develop an indigenous powerful jet engine to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Despite decades of development, the engine has faced issues such as low thrust, overheating, excessive weight, and lack of durability, resulting in the continued use of American engines in Tejas fighter jets. The project has exceeded its original budget by more than six times and has only been cleared for limited test flights. A weaker version is planned for the Ghatak stealth drone, but progress is slow due to technical challenges, poor program management, and limited collaboration.