DRDO unveils India's first indigenous 350 kg thrust turbojet engine

New Delhi: India has achieved a significant breakthrough in indigenous aero-engine technology with the successful development of its first expendable turbojet engine in the 350 kg thrust class. The engine has been designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE).

According to the Ministry of Defence, the engine was manufactured and assembled by Hyderabad-based Azad Engineering, which delivered it to GTRE on July 22. The project marks a major step towards strengthening India's self-reliance in advanced aerospace and defence technologies.

GTRE had partnered with Azad Engineering for the production and assembly of the engine. The ministry said the successful delivery is the result of years of precision engineering, advanced manufacturing and close collaboration between India's scientific institutions and industry.

Describing jet engine technology as one of the world's most complex engineering fields mastered by only a few countries, the ministry said the achievement highlights the growing technological capabilities of India's defence sector in producing advanced propulsion systems.

The engine was formally handed over by Azad Engineering CEO Rakesh Chopdar to DRDO Director General (Aeronautical Systems) Dr K. Rajalakshmi Menon and GTRE Director Dr S.V. Ramanamurty.

Defence Secretary, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh congratulated GTRE and Azad Engineering, saying their partnership had turned the vision of an indigenous expendable turbojet engine into a landmark achievement for India's aerospace and defence ecosystem.

The successful development of the engine is expected to further boost India's indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities and support the country's broader objective of achieving self-reliance in critical military technologies.

With inputs from IANS