GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri

2021-12-01T08:28:28Z

2405:201:E021:4B8C:D5F0:9DD3:84B9:4847: /* Applications */ citation update

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
|name= GTX-35VS Kaveri
|image= File:GTX-35VS Kaveri.jpg
|caption= GTRE GTX-35VS Engine on the Testbed
}}
{{Infobox aircraft engine
|type= [[Afterburning]] [[turbofan]]
|national origin = India
|manufacturer= [[Gas Turbine Research Establishment]]
|first run= 1996
|major applications= [[HAL Tejas]], [[HAL AMCA]]
|number built = 9<ref name="PIB21">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=79100|title=Press Information Bureau English Releases|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
|program cost = estimated more than {{USD}}640 million
|unit cost =
|developed from =
|current status = abandoned<ref>http://www.oneindia.com/bengaluru/oneindia-exclusive-drdo-to-abandon-kaveri-project-gtre-gets-revival-package-1565505.html</ref>
|developed into =
|variants with their own articles =
}}
|}

The '''GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri''' is an [[afterburning]] [[turbofan]] project developed by the [[Gas Turbine Research Establishment]] (GTRE), a lab under the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO) in [[Bengaluru]], [[India]]. An Indian design, the Kaveri was originally intended to power production models of the [[HAL Tejas]] Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) being built by the [[Aeronautical Development Agency]]. However, the Kaveri programme failed to satisfy the necessary technical requirements or keep up with its envisaged timelines and was officially delinked from the Tejas programme in September 2008.

[[Snecma]], on a tie up with ''DRDO'', is slated to revive and certify the engine as part of the offsets deal for 36 [[Dassault Rafale]] jets purchased by India.<ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/drdo-ties-up-with-snecma-to-revive-engine-for-tejas-116112000534_1.html DRDO ties up with Snecma to revive engine for Tejas] Business Standard 21 November 2016</ref>

==History==

=== Programme ===
In 1986, the Indian Defence Ministry's [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO) was authorized to launch a programme to develop an indigenous powerplant for the Light Combat Aircraft. It had already been decided early in the LCA programme to equip the prototype aircraft with the [[General Electric F404]]-GE-F2J3 afterburning turbofan engine, but if this parallel program was successful, it was intended to equip the production aircraft with this indigenous engine.

The DRDO assigned the lead development responsibility to its [[Gas Turbine Research Establishment]] (GTRE), which had some experience in developing jet engines. It had developed the GTX37-14U after-burning [[turbojet]], which first ran in 1977, and was the first jet engine to be designed entirely in India.<ref name="JAE2006"/> A turbofan derivative, the GTX37-14UB, followed. The GTRE returned to turbojet technology with the greatly redesigned, but unsatisfactory, GTX-35.

For the LCA programme, the [[GTRE]] would again take up a turbofan design which it designated the GTX-35VS "''Kaveri''" (named after the [[Kaveri River]]). Full-scale development was authorized in April 1989 in what was then expected to be a 93-month programme projected to cost {{INRConvert|3.82|b|1}}. A new engine typically costs up to $2 billion to develop, according to engine industry executives.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-airlines-airbus-a-idUSLNE75502620110606 | work=Reuters | title=Rolls-Royce in costly A350 engine redesign -sources | date=6 June 2011}}</ref>

===Development===
The original plans called for 17 prototype test engines to be built. The first test engine consisted of only the core module (named "''Kabini''"), while the third engine was the first example fitted with variable inlet guide vanes (IGV) on the first three compressor stages. The ''Kabini'' core engine first ran in March 1995. Test runs of the first complete prototype ''Kaveri'' began in 1996 and all five ground-test examples were in testing by 1998; the initial flight tests were planned for the end of 1999, with its first test flight in an LCA prototype to follow the next year.<ref>There has been much criticism of the degree of realism in the DRDO's planning schedules for various elements of the LCA programme, most particularly for the ''Kaveri'' development effort. France's [[Snecma]], with over half a century of successful jet engine development experience, took nearly 13 years to bring the ''Rafale'' fighter's M88 engine to low-volume production after bench testing had begun; a similar timespan for the less-experienced GTRE would see ''Kaveri'' production beginning no earlier than 2009. (See Reddy, C. Manmohan (16 September 2002). {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090317030448/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/biz/2002/09/16/stories/2002091600190300.htm LCA economics]}}. ''The Hindu''</ref> However, progress in the ''Kaveri'' development programme was slowed by both political and technical difficulties.

In 2002, little information had been publicly released concerning the nature of the ''Kaveri''{{'s}} technical challenges, but it was known that the ''Kaveri'' had a tendency to "throw" turbine blades, which required securing blades from SNECMA (as well as digital engine control systems).<ref>Anon. (30 May 2002). [http://webmag.safran-group.com/article.php3?id_article=100&lang=en Snecma Aerospace India: a new stage in cross-border collaboration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521063403/http://webmag.safran-group.com/article.php3?id_article=100&lang=en |date=21 May 2006 }}. SAFRAN Group website ''Le Webmag''. Retrieved from "Military Aviation and Defense" section 14 September 2006.</ref>

Continuing development snags with the ''Kaveri'' resulted in the 2003 decision to procure the uprated F404-GE-IN20 engine for the eight pre-production Limited Series Production (LSP) aircraft and two naval prototypes. The ADA awarded General Electric a {{USD}}105 million contract in February 2004 for development engineering and production of 17 F404-IN20 engines, delivery of which is to begin in 2006.

In mid-2004, the ''Kaveri'' failed its high-altitude tests in Russia, ending the last hopes of introducing it with the first production ''Tejas'' aircraft.<ref>Since India does not possess suitable aircraft, the high-altitude testing of the ''Kaveri'' is contracted to [[Russia]], which uses a [[Tupolev Tu-16|Tu-16]] [[bomber]] for the purpose. Another ''Kaveri'' engine was delivered to Russia for further flight testing from June to September 2006, but on an [[Ilyushin Il-76|Il-76]] testbed instead of a Tu-16.</ref> This unfortunate development led the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to order 40 more IN20 engines in 2005 for the first 20 production aircraft, and to openly appeal for international participation in completing development of the ''Kaveri''. In February 2006, the ADA awarded a contract to [[SNECMA]] for technical assistance in working out the ''Kaveri's'' problems.<ref name="Janes2005-06">Jackson, Paul; Munson, Kenneth; & Peacock, Lindsay (Eds.) (2005). "ADA Tejas" in ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2005-06''. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group Limited. p. 195. {{ISBN|0-7106-2684-3}}.</ref>

In December 2004, it was revealed that the [[GTRE]] had spent over {{INRConvert|13|b|1}} on developing the ''Kaveri''. Furthermore, the [[Cabinet Committee on Security]] judged that the ''Kaveri'' would not be installed on the LCA before 2012, and revised its estimate for the projected total development cost to {{INRConvert|28.39|b|0}}.<ref>Pandit, Rajat (16 July 2006). [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1762012.cms IAF may not get to fly LCA before 2010]. ''The Times of India''.</ref>

In April 2005, "There is good progress" on the development of the Kaveri engine, M. Natarajan, Scientific Adviser to the Defense Minister told [[The Hindu]]. "We are planning to integrate a prototype Kaveri engine into one of the LCA prototypes sometime in 2007 to understand the nuances of such a complex power-pack," he further told The Hindu.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/26/stories/2005042602701300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050427002836/http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/26/stories/2005042602701300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=27 April 2005 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Good progress on Kaveri engine, says DRDO chief | date=26 April 2005}}</ref>

In February 2006, the US experts told PTI that "Kaveri is truly a world-class engine." "We are ready to join in partnership with the Defence Research and Development Organisation to make Kaveri work," General William J Begert of Pratt and Whitney, told PTI. But DRDO secretary Natrajan told PTI that "But Kaveri is and would remain an Indian project."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.india-defence.com/reports/1306 |title=India-defence.com |access-date=4 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603203144/http://www.india-defence.com/reports/1306 |archive-date=3 June 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

On 5 February 2007, Scientific Adviser to Defense Minister M Natarajan said nearly 90 to 93 per cent of the expected performance had been realized and the government had recently floated an expression of interest to seek partners to move the programme further.<ref>Anon. (5 February 2007). [http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/feb/05iaf.htm Rediff.com], Rediff news website. Retrieved from "Rediff.com" on 15 May 2007.</ref> Till 11 February 2008, Kaveri had undergone 1,700 hours of tests and has been sent twice to [[Russia]] to undergo high-altitude tests for which India has no facility. The engine is also being tested to power the next generation of [[Unmanned Aerial Vehicles]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20120907182748/http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=544197 Uutlookindia.com | wired]</ref>

In July 2007, GTRE divided Kaveri program into two separate programs. They are K9+ Program and K10 Program. K9+ Program is a program to prove concept of complete design and gain hand-on experience of aircraft engine integration and flight trials to cover a defined truncated flight envelope prior to the launch of production version of K10 Standard engine. While K10 Program is a joint venture (JV) partnership with a foreign engine manufacturer. K10 program engine will be final production standard Kaveri engine and shall have less weight and more reheat thrust along with certain other changes to meet the original design intent.<ref name="FI">{{cite web |url=http://frontierindia.net/kaveri-engine-gathers-momentum |title=Kaveri engine gathers momentum |work=Frontier India |access-date=6 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218004700/http://frontierindia.net/kaveri-engine-gathers-momentum/ |archive-date=18 December 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In September 2008, it was announced that the Kaveri would not be ready in time for the Tejas, and that an in-production powerplant would have to selected.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092755480700.htm |title=Kaveri engine programme delinked from the Tejas |last=Sharma |first=Ravi |date=27 September 2008 |access-date=28 September 2008 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930201659/http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092755480700.htm |archive-date=30 September 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |df=dmy }}</ref> Development of the Kaveri by the GTRE would continue for other future applications. It was announced in November 2008 that the Kaveri engine will be installed on LCA by December 2009,<ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov72008/state2008110699318.asp Kaveri in LCA by 2009]</ref> apparently for tests only.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}

In February 2009, it was published in Flightglobal that the GTRE had spent {{INRConvert|20|b|1}} in developing the Kaveri engine since 1989, but the power-plant is still overweight and does not have the {{convert|21000|-|22,500|lb-f|kN|abbr=on}} of thrust that its customer requires. Natarajan told Flightglobal that the programme will not be scrapped. "A team of air force engineers is working with GTRE and ADA in addressing the issues. As an ongoing project, the air force will be involved at the point of integrating the upgraded version of the engine with the aircraft," he told Flightglobal. "Discussions with Snecma have been going on for two years," he further adds. "Development and flight-testing of the new engine will take at least five to six years."<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/02/05/322084/indias-lca-unlikely-to-use-kaveri-engine-until-late-next.html Flightglobal.com]</ref>

In December 2009, Kaveri-Snecma JV was trying Back-door Entry in LCA. The People's Post reported that GTRE has agreed to de-link Kaveri from LCA, but has put in a proposal that when the first 40 GE-404 engines in the initial two squadrons of the LCA for the IAF, get phased out should be replaced by the Kaveri-Snecma engine, in future.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2009/12/kaveri-snecma-jv-try-back-door-entry-in.html |title=Blogspot.com |access-date=4 August 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708072433/chhindits.blogspot.com/2009/12/kaveri-snecma-jv-try-back-door-entry-in.html |archive-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

On 3 May 2010, about 1880 hours of engine test had been completed on various prototypes of Kaveri Engine. A total of eight Kaveri Engines and four core engines have been manufactured, assembled and tested. High Altitude testing on core engine has been completed successfully.<ref name="PIB">{{cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=61315 |title=Press Information Bureau English Releases |access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>

In June 2010, the Kaveri engine based on Snecma's new core, an uprated derivative of the M88-2 engine that powers the French Rafale fighter, providing {{convert|83|-|85|kN|lb-f|abbr=on|order=flip}} of maximum thrust is being considered an option by [[DRDO]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=13081 |title=Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines |access-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010043427/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=13081 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

A press release in August 2010, stated that GTRE with the help of [[Central Institute of Aviation Motors]] (CIAM) of Russia is trying to match objective of fine tuning of Kaveri engine performance. Until August 2010, one major milestone which is altitude testing, simulating Kaveri engine performance at different altitude and achieving speed of Mach 1 had been completed successfully. One of Kaveri prototype (K9) was successfully flight tested at Gromov Flight Research Institute in Moscow, on 4 November 2010.

The test was conducted at the Flying Test Bed at Gromov, with the engine running right from the take-off to landing, flying for a period of over one hour up to an altitude of {{convert|6000|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The engine helped the IL-76 aircraft test bed fly at speeds of 0.6 [[Mach number|Mach]] in its maiden flight, according to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

"The engine control, performance and health during the flight were found to be excellent. With this test, Kaveri engine has completed a major milestone of development programme," it added. After completing these milestone Kaveri engine is flight-worthy.<ref name="PIB 02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?700099|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712122648/http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?700099|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 July 2012|title=India's Indigenous Jet Engine Successfully Flight Tested|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> The Kaveri engine was tested for the first time on a flying testbed and the trials were a success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=66793|title=Press Information Bureau English Releases|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924073922/http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=66793|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Till April 2011, the first phase of Kaveri engine FTB trials have been completed successfully and further tests will continue from May 2011 onwards. The flight tests successfully carried out so far are up to {{convert|12|km|ft|abbr=on}} maximum altitude and a maximum forward speed of 0.7 [[Mach number|Mach]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inewsone.com/2011/05/02/kaveri-engine-completes-tests-in-russia/47679 |title=Kaveri engine completes tests in Russia News |access-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506172124/http://www.inewsone.com/2011/05/02/kaveri-engine-completes-tests-in-russia/47679 |archive-date=6 May 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In its annual report for 2010–11, The [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India]] noted that {{INRConvert|18.92|b|1}} had been spent on development, with only two out of the six milestones prescribed having been met. Among its deficiencies, CAG says the engine weight was higher than the design specifications, being {{convert|1235|kg|lb|abbr=on}} against {{convert|1100|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, and there was no progress on developing the compressor, turbine and engine control systems.<ref>[http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/no-lca-engine-yet-cag-upset-752 Deccan Chronicle New Report]</ref>

On 21 December 2011, "9 prototypes of Kaveri engines and 4 prototypes of Kabini (Core) engines have been developed" told by the then Defence Minister AK Antony in [[Rajya Sabha]]. Further on, 2050 hours of test flight of engines has been taken place so far. 27 flights for 55 hours duration have been completed on testbed IL-76 aircraft as well as {{convert|12|km|ft|abbr=on}} maximum forward altitude and a maximum forward speed of 0.7 [[Mach number|Mach]] had been recorded.<ref name="PIB21"/>

;Problems

The ''Kaveri'' program has attracted much criticism due to its ambitious objective, protracted development time, cost overruns, and the DRDO's lack of clarity and openness in admitting problems. Much of the criticism of the LCA program has been aimed at the ''Kaveri'' and Multi-Mode Radar programs. There has been much criticism of the degree of realism in the DRDO's planning schedules for various elements of the LCA programme, most particularly for the ''Kaveri'' development effort. France's [[Snecma|SNECMA]], with over half a century of successful jet engine development experience, took nearly 13 years to bring the [[Dassault Rafale|''Rafale'']] fighter's [[SNECMA M88|M88]] engine to low-volume production after bench testing had begun; a similar timespan for the less-experienced [[GTRE]] would see ''Kaveri'' production beginning no earlier than 2009.<ref>Reddy, C. Manmohan (16 September 2002). {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090317030448/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/biz/2002/09/16/stories/2002091600190300.htm LCA economics]}}. ''The Hindu''.</ref> Another criticism has been DRDO's reluctance to admit problems in the engine and its resistance to involve foreign engine manufacturers until the problems became too large to handle.

In August 2010, regarding the reasons for delay, a Ministry of Defense press release reported:<ref name="PIB 02">{{cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=63983 |title=Press Information Bureau English Releases |access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
# "Ab-initio development of state-of-the-art gas turbine technologies.
# Technical/technological complexities.
# Lack of availability of critical equipment & materials and denial of technologies by the technologically advanced countries.
# Lack of availability of test facilities in the country necessitating testing abroad.
# Non availability of skilled/technically specialized manpower."

===Current status===
The DRDO currently hopes to have the ''Kaveri'' engine ready for use on the ''Tejas'' in the latter half of the 2010s decade<ref name="thehindu"/> and according to latest news still research on it is going on and the time to complete its research has been extended to 2011-2012.<ref name="PIB"/>

"In recent times, the engine has been able to produce thrust of {{convert|70|-|75|kN|abbr=on|order=flip}} but what the IAF and other stake-holders desire is power between {{convert|90|-|95|kN|abbr=on|order=flip}}", senior officials told [[The Hindu]].<ref name="thehindu" /> "On using the Kaveri for the LCA, they said the engine would be fitted on the first 40 LCAs to be supplied to the IAF when they come for upgrades to the DRDO in the latter half of the decade." Article further adds that in 2011, 50-60 test flights will be carried out to mature the engine in terms of reliability, safety and airworthiness.<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/article1127075.ece |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=Kaveri engine to power fifth generation fighter aircraft |date=26 January 2011}}</ref>

India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) aims to integrate the Kaveri power-plant with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Tejas fighter within the next nine months. A test aircraft operated by India's Aeronautical Development Agency will be used for the integration, says an industry source familiar with the programme.
If the integration is successful, the GTRE hopes to see a Tejas fly with a Kaveri power-plant by the end of 2013.<ref name="flightglobal.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/india-could-test-kaveri-engine-on-tejas-by-end-2013-379684/ | location=Bangalore, India | work=Flight Global | title=India could test Kaveri engine on Tejas by end-2013 | author= Greg Waldron | date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

In Lok Sabha on 10 December. 2012 Defence Minister A K Antony gave an update on the progress made by the Kaveri Engine Development Project as follows:

# So far, 9 prototypes of Kaveri Engine and 4 prototypes of Kabani (Core) Engine have been developed.
# 2,200 hours of test (ground and altitude conditions) has been conducted.
# The following two major milestones have been achieved:
## Successful completion of Official Altitude Testing (OAT); and
## Demonstration of First Block of flight of Kaveri Engine in Flying Test Bed (FTB).

Kaveri Engine was integrated with IL-76 Aircraft at Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI), Russia and flight test was successfully carried out up to {{convert|12|km|ft|abbr=on}} maximum altitude and maximum forward speed of 0.7 [[Mach number|Mach]]. Twenty Seven flights for 57 hours duration have been completed.

DRDO demonstrated its technological capability in aero-engine technology. This has been a great achievement in the aerospace community of the country, when the first ever indigenously developed fighter aircraft engine was subjected to flight testing. Tacit knowledge acquired by the DRDO scientists during this project will also be applied for further aerospace technology. Kaveri spin-off engine can be used as propulsion system for Indian Unmanned Strike Air Vehicle (USAV).<ref name="chhindits.blogspot.in">{{cite news |url=http://chhindits.blogspot.in/2012/12/kaveri-successfully-completes-official.html |location=Zhukhovsky, Russia |work=chhindits |title=Kaveri Successfully Completes Official Altitude Testing, Demonstrates First Block of Flight in Flying Test Bed (FTB) : Indian Defence Minister in Parliament |author=Suman Sharma |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=13 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502220342/http://chhindits.blogspot.in/2012/12/kaveri-successfully-completes-official.html |archive-date=2 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In January 2013, the GTRE director said that they are abandoning the plan for co-development with Snecma, but they still need an overseas partner, which will be selected through competitive bidding.<ref name="http://www.business-standard.com/">{{cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=497740 |location=Bangalore, India |title=DefenceMin goes global in search for Kaveri partner |author= Ajai Shukla |date=4 January 2013}}</ref>

In November 2014, The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) decided to abandon the Kaveri engine (GTX-35VS ) programme due to its shortcomings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oneindia.com/bengaluru/oneindia-exclusive-drdo-to-abandon-kaveri-project-gtre-gets-revival-package-1565505.html |title=One India }}</ref>

As per government statement in [[Rajya Sabha]] during Winter Session 2021, HAL Tejas FOC variant demands higher thrust which present Kaveri engine architecture is unable to provide hence will not be used. The engine did achieved higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL) in critical technology domains. There is proposal to jointly develop a new engine for [[HAL AMCA]] with the help of foreign partner using the know how from Kaveri engine programme.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Punj|first=Vivek|date=2021-11-29|title=HAL to manufacture first four light utility helicopters by 2022-23: Centre|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/hal-to-manufacture-first-four-light-utility-helicopters-by-2022-23-centre-11638200029488.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Mint|language=en}}</ref>

===Foreign help===
On 4 July 2016, according to Indian media report, France offered to invest EUR 1 billion to revive India's combat jet engine project, proposing a joint development plan that could see the stalled Kaveri gas turbine powering indigenous Tejas fighters by 2020.<ref name="light">{{cite news|title=France offers EUR 1 billion to revive India's combat jet engine project|url=http://m.economictimes.com/news/defence/france-offers-eur-1-billion-to-revive-indias-combat-jet-engine-project/articleshow/53036894.cms|access-date=4 July 2016|work= Economic Times|date=4 July 2016}}</ref>

On 20 November 2016, [[DRDO]] Director General for Aeronautics Cluster C P Ramanarayanan confirmed that DRDO and French [[Snecma]] have tied up to revive Kaveri Engine as part of the offsets deal for 36 [[Rafale]] jet. It is expected that the engine would be integrated and tested in LCA Tejas by 2018.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Krishnan|first1=Alnoor Peermohamed & Raghu|title=DRDO ties up with Snecma to revive gas turbine engine for Tejas|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/drdo-ties-up-with-snecma-to-revive-gas-turbine-engine-for-tejas-116112000534_1.html|access-date=20 November 2016|work=Business Standard India|date=20 November 2016}}</ref> In 2018, La Tribune reported that French Snecma will help in production of the Kaveri by sharing M88's technology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/l-avion-de-combat-indien-tejas-bientot-propulse-par-le-moteur-m88-du-rafale-769696.html|title=L'avion de combat indien Tejas bientôt propulsé par le moteur M88 du Rafale ?|website=La Tribune|language=fr|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref>

==Design==
A low-[[Bypass ratio|bypass-ratio]] (BPR) [[Afterburner (engine)|afterburning]] [[turbofan]] engine featuring a six-stage core high-pressure (HP) compressor with variable inlet guide vanes (IGVs), a three-stage low-pressure (LP) compressor with transonic blading, an annular combustion chamber, and cooled single-stage HP and LP turbines. The development model is fitted with an advanced [[de Laval nozzle|convergent-divergent]] ("con-di") variable [[nozzle]], but the GTRE hopes to fit production Tejas aircraft with an axisymmetric, multi-axis [[Thrust vectoring|thrust-vectoring]] [[nozzle]] to further enhance the LCA's agility. The core [[Turbojet]] engine of the Kaveri is the ''Kabini''.

The general arrangement of the Kaveri is very similar to other contemporary combat engines, such as the [[Eurojet EJ200]], [[General Electric F414]] and [[Snecma M88]]. It has a very low bypass ratio (0.16:1). Similar low amounts of bypass on earlier engines, required only for afterburner and nozzle cooling,<ref>Design For Air Combat, Ray Whitford 1987, Jane's Publishing Company Limited, {{ISBN|0 7106 0426 2}}, p.140</ref> introduced the term "'leaky' turbojet".

The ''Kaveri'' engine has been specifically designed for the Indian operating environment, which ranges from hot desert to the highest mountain range in the world. The [[GTRE]]'s design envisions achieving a fan pressure ratio of 4:1 and an overall pressure ratio of 27:1, which it believes will permit the Tejas to "[[supercruise]]" (cruise supersonically without the use of the afterburner).

Plans also already exist for derivatives of the ''Kaveri'', including a non-afterburning version for an advanced jet trainer, and a high-bypass-ratio turbofan based on the ''Kabini'' core.<ref name="LCA Update">Mama, Hormuz (November 1998). [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Info/Aircraft/LCA.html LCA Update] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010508015420/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Info/Aircraft/LCA.html |date=8 May 2001 }}. ''Flight International'' via Bharat-Rakshak.com.</ref> Another concept being considered is an enlarged version of the ''Tejas'' which is being called ''Tejas MK2'' with two engines fitted with fully vectoring nozzles, which might make the vertical tail redundant (the ''Tejas'' has no horizontal tail).<ref name="JAE2006">Gunston, Bill (Ed.) (15 June 2006). "GTRE Kaveri" in ''Jane’s Aero-Engines'', Issue 14. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group Limited. {{ISBN|0-7106-1405-5}}.</ref>

An indigenous [[FADEC|Full-Authority Digital Engine Control]] (FADEC) unit, called ''Kaveri Digital Engine Control Unit'' (KADECU) has been developed by the [[Defence Avionics Research Establishment]] (DARE), Bangalore. The [[Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment]] (CVRDE) of [[Avadi]] was responsible for the design and development of the Tejas aircraft-mounted accessory gear box (AMAGB) and the power take-off (PTO) shaft.

==Applications==
Plans are also already under way for derivatives of the ''Kaveri'', including a non-afterburning version for an advanced jet trainer and a high-bypass-ratio turbofan based on the ''Kaveri'' core, named as Kabini.<ref name="LCA Update"/>

* GTX-35VS ''Kaveri'':
**[[HAL Tejas|HAL Tejas Mk1/Mk1A]] (planned for production models)
**[[HAL AMCA]]
**[[HAL TEDBF]]
* Derivatives:
**Kaveri Marine Gas Turbine (KMGT), a recently developed derivative of the GTX-35VS Kaveri engine for ships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=40470|title=Press Information Bureau English Releases|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.domain-b.com/defence/def_prod/20080717_kaveri_engine.html|title=Breakthrough for GTRE scientists – develop marine version of the Kaveri engine|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
**Ghatak, a Kaveri derivative to be developed to power India's Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle [[DRDO AURA]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pubby|first=Manu|title=Government set to clear Rs 3,000 crore plan to develop engine for India's first UCAV|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/government-set-to-clear-rs-3000-crore-plan-to-develop-engine-for-indias-first-ucav/articleshow/49775096.cms|access-date=2021-12-01}}</ref>

==Specification (GTX-35VS ''Kaveri'')==
{{jetspecs


|type=[[Afterburning]] [[Turbofan]]
|length={{convert|137.4|in|mm|1|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|diameter={{convert|35.8|in|mm|1|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|weight={{convert|2724|lb|kg|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|compressor=Two-spool, with low-pressure (LP) and high-pressure (HP) [[axial compressor]]s:<br>
**LP compressor with 3 fan stages and transonic blading
**HP compressor with 6 stages, including variable inlet guide vanes and first two stators
|combustion=Annular, with dump diffuser and air-blast fuel atomisers
|turbine=1 LP stage and 1 HP stage
|fueltype=
|oilsystem=
|power=
|thrust=<br>
*''Military'': {{convert|11687|lb-f|kN|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}
*''Afterburner'': {{convert|18210|lb-f|kN|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|aircon=
|fuelcon=
|specfuelcon=<br>

*''Military'': 0.78 lb/(lbf•h) (79.52 kg/(kN·h))
*''Afterburner'': 2.03 lb/(lbf•h) (207.00 kg/(kN·h))
|power/weight=
|thrust/weight=7.8
}}

===Engine cycle===
*'''Airflow:''' {{convert|172|lb|kg|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} per second
*'''Bypass ratio:''' 0.16:1
*'''Overall pressure ratio:''' 21.5:1
*'''LP compressor pressure ratio:''' 3.4:1
*'''HP compressor pressure ratio:''' 6.4:1
*'''Turbine entry temperature:''' {{convert|2600|F|C K|0|abbr=on}}

==See also==
* [[List of aircraft engine manufacturers (alphabetical)|List of aircraft engine manufacturers]]
* [[List of aircraft engines]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110220152859/http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/kaveri.html ''Kaveri'' product detail on DRDO website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070926233946/http://frontierindia.net/kaveri-engine-gathers-momentum/ Kaveri engine gathers momentum]
{{Hindustan Aeronautics Limited}}
{{Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gtre Gtx-35vs Kaveri}}
[[Category:Low-bypass turbofan engines]]
[[Category:1990s turbofan engines]]

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GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri