Indigenous Aero-Engine Project Announcement.Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh launched India’s indigenous aero-engine project at the Defence Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, marking a major step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence. The initiative aims to boost self-reliance, reduce imports, and strengthen India’s strategic sovereignty in modern warfare.
Context
- On 30th August 2025, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated an indigenous aero-engine development project at the Defence Conclave “Warfare in the 21st Century” in New Delhi.
- The move comes under the larger framework of Atmanirbhar Bharat and the Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020.
Key Highlights of the Announcement
- Indigenous Aero-Engine Development
- India is working to design and manufacture its own jet engines for combat aircraft, transport planes, and UAVs.
- The project aims to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers like General Electric (USA), Rolls Royce (UK), Safran (France), and Klimov (Russia).
- Strategic Importance
- Engines are the most critical and high-value component of aerospace platforms, often under export control regimes.
- India has faced challenges in past projects like Kaveri engine (GTRE-DRDO), which could not fully meet IAF’s requirements for the LCA Tejas.
- Rajnath Singh’s Message
- He clarified that indigenous development is not protectionism, but an essential condition for sovereignty in modern warfare.
- India must avoid supply chain vulnerabilities exposed during conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war.
Importance for India
- Self-Reliance in Defence: Reduces dependency on imports (India is the world’s second largest arms importer, SIPRI 2024).
- Cost Efficiency: Saves foreign exchange and encourages domestic R&D ecosystems.
- Export Potential: Successful aero-engines can be exported under the Defence Export Target of $5 billion by 2025.
- Strategic Autonomy: India will not be subject to technology denials or sanctions.
Challenges
- High R&D Cost: Aero-engine development requires billions of dollars and decades of research.
- Technology Gaps: Precision metallurgy, turbine blade cooling, and high-temperature alloys remain challenges.
- Private Sector Involvement: Need stronger participation from firms like HAL, Tata Advanced Systems, L&T Defence.
Related Government Policies
- Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (2020 onwards) in defence.
- Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 → preference for indigenously designed products.
- Positive Indigenisation List → engines and critical technologies included.
- Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) → funding startups in defence innovation.
UPSC Mains Relevance
- GS Paper II (Polity & IR) → Strategic autonomy & defence diplomacy.
- GS Paper III (Security & Economy) → Indigenisation of technology, Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Answer Frame for Mains
“The launch of the indigenous aero-engine project marks a turning point in India’s quest for strategic autonomy. By reducing dependence on foreign technology, India seeks to safeguard its sovereignty, ensure uninterrupted defence preparedness, and emerge as a global defence manufacturing hub. However, challenges of R&D funding, technical expertise, and timely execution must be addressed to make this vision a reality.