India’s ‘Kaveri’ turbofan engine to undergo in-flight trials in Ilyushin Il-76

by WagenClub · Published December 29, 2024 · Updated December 29, 2024

A dry variant of the indigenously developed ‘Kaveri’ jet engine that is set to undergo in-flight trials will eventually power DRDO Ghatak unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).

*Il-76 fitted with ‘Kaveri’ engine in one of the latter’s previous in-flight trials. Image Credit: IMR*

India’s long-awaited turbofan jet engine ‘Kaveri‘ has entered into a significant phase in its development. A ‘dry’ variant of the engine – without an afterburner – will undergo critical in-flight tests in Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft in the coming February. This is essentially a step closer to the its certified deployment in DRDO’s indigenous UCAV ‘Ghatak‘.

It is reported that about 8 units of the ‘Dry’ Kaveri engine is being manufactured by Godrej Aerospace under contract. The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a specialized lab under DRDO, has been entrusted with the development of the jet engine. The lab will spearhead the upcoming in-flight trials of the engine in Russia.

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Originally intended to power HAL Tejas light combat aircrafts, the Kaveri engine programme missed multiple deadlines and opportunities towards successful integration into aircrafts in the previous decades. To suit the power and weight requirements of the UCAV platforms, the engine has been reworked to exclude the afterburner system, making it a ‘dry’ jet engine.

The Kaveri dry engine is said to produce 48 kN of thrust without an afterburner. The engine will be integrated into an Il-76 testbed aircraft for performance evaluation under diverse flight conditions. This involves replacing one of the four engines of the Russian aircraft with a ‘dry’ Kaveri for comprehensive in-flight evaluation.

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The Ilyushin Il-76, a multi-purpose and strategic airlifter from the Soviet Union era, is renowned for its versatility as a flying testbed for engine trials of the ‘Kaveri’ project. The results of the in-flight trials will enable the developers to refine the engine towards the its final integration into the DRDO Ghatak platform.

Image Credit: Indian Military Review (imrmedia.in)