India’s Jet Engine Gap Threatens Defence Autonomy

Source: The post India’s Jet Engine Gap Threatens Defence Autonomy has been created, based on the article “India’s Jet Engine Gap Threatens Defence Autonomy” published in “The Hindu” on 20th June 2025

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Science and Technology- indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Context: India’s indigenous AMCA fighter jet project is generating excitement, but history urges caution. The persistent failure to develop native jet engines, as seen in the HF-24 Marut and Kaveri projects, highlights a critical propulsion gap. This dependency endangers India’s military preparedness, strategic autonomy, and aerospace ambitions.

Historical Lessons from Indigenous Aviation Efforts

1. The HF-24 Marut’s Unfulfilled Promise: Developed in the 1950s by HAL under Kurt Tank, the Marut reflected India’s aerospace aspirations. Although sleek and capable of transonic flight, it was held back by underpowered British engines and retired by 1990 after limited production.
2. Propulsion as a Critical Weakness: The Marut’s failure lay not in its design but in engine limitations. IAF veterans stressed that propulsion defines combat effectiveness. Without a powerful engine, advanced aircraft remain operationally compromised.
3. Longstanding Foreign Engine Dependence: India’s inability to build its own engines crippled its fighter projects. The pattern of reliance continues with present and upcoming programmes.

Challenges in Indigenous Engine Development

1. Prolonged Struggles with the Kaveri Project: Launched in 1989 for the LCA, the Kaveri engine failed despite ₹2032 crore spent over decades. Nine prototypes and multiple test hours could not meet thrust, thermal, and reliability benchmarks.
2. Unfruitful International Collaborations: Attempts with Snecma and Safran failed either due to technical gaps or DRDO’s reluctance to co-develop. These collapses delayed progress further.
3. Fallback to GE Engines for Tejas: With Kaveri inadequate, ADA adopted the U.S. GE F404 engine in 2004. It allowed limited Tejas deployment from 2015 but constrained payload and manoeuvrability.

Recent Setbacks and Delays

1. LCA Mk1A Engine Delivery Delays: GE delayed 99 F404 engines under a $716 million contract by 13 months. Deliveries began only in April 2025, pushing back the upgraded LCA Mk1A’s induction.
2. Sharp IAF Criticism of HAL: Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh criticized HAL for chronic delays, especially as IAF squadrons dropped to around 30 from the sanctioned 42.5. He stressed that military readiness cannot wait.
3. GE-F414 Engine Deal Stalled: HAL’s plan to co-produce the F414 engine hit a roadblock. GE demanded $500 million more and refused to share key technologies like turbine blades and thermal coatings, crucial for engine durability and thrust.

Wider Impacts of Propulsion Dependency

1. Engine Import Reliance Across Forces: The Army’s Arjun tanks and Navy’s warships also use imported engines. India lacks domestic propulsion systems for land, sea, and air platforms.
2. AMCA and LCA Mk2 Also Affected: Both AMCA Mk1 and LCA Mk2 will depend on GE’s F414 engines as interim solutions. Talks with Safran and Rolls-Royce for joint development have not yielded results.
3. Strategic Risks of Continued Dependence: Without indigenous engines, India remains exposed to geopolitical risks, just as it was during the Marut era.

Need for a Long-Term Engine Strategy

1. Engines as a Strategic Asset: Jet engines determine aircraft power, export control, and readiness. Dominant powers like the U.S., China, and France lead because of in-house propulsion expertise.
2. Underlying Political and Institutional Gaps: Experts argue India’s failure is rooted more in political indecision and fragmented funding than technical capability.
3. Urgent Reforms and Ecosystem Integration Needed: True engine autonomy demands structural reform, strong political will, and an ecosystem that links defence R&D, academia, and private innovation into a unified, strategic framework.

Question for practice:

Examine the impact of India’s continued dependence on foreign jet engines on its indigenous fighter aircraft programmes and overall military preparedness.