BENGALURU / RAMANAGAR — March 20, 2026 : The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has released a Request for Information (RFI) through its Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to establish the National Aero Engine Test Complex (NAETC). The proposed facility will be located in Raman Nagar, Karnataka, and is intended to provide India with comprehensive, independent ground-based testing infrastructure for aero engines and their critical sub-systems.
The NAETC will comprise the following specialised test facilities:
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High Altitude Engine Test Facility – Simulates extreme high-altitude conditions (low pressure, low temperature, reduced oxygen) to evaluate engine starting, relight, performance, surge margin, and stability without requiring actual high-altitude flight tests.
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Fan and Compressor Test Facility – Dedicated to aerodynamic and mechanical performance assessment of fan and compressor stages, including efficiency, pressure ratio, surge/stall characteristics, and blade vibration.
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Combustor Test Facility – Enables detailed testing of combustion chambers for fuel-air mixing, flame stability, combustion efficiency, emissions, liner durability, and heat transfer under realistic operating conditions.
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Turbine Test Facility – Focuses on turbine stage performance, cooling effectiveness, aerodynamic efficiency, material behaviour under high thermal and centrifugal loads, and creep/fatigue evaluation.
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Afterburner Test Facility – Specifically designed for testing afterburner systems, measuring thrust augmentation, combustion stability, infrared signature, thermal management, and durability during reheat operation.
The establishment of the NAETC marks a significant step toward self-reliance in aero-engine development and certification. At present, India depends on foreign test facilities—particularly in Russia, France, and the United States—for certain high-altitude, afterburner, and advanced sub-system trials. This reliance has contributed to delays in key indigenous programs.
The facility will directly support ongoing and future propulsion initiatives, most notably the Kaveri engine programme. The dry variant (Kaveri Derivative Engine / KDE), producing approximately 49–51 kN of thrust, has already undergone extensive ground runs, high-altitude simulation tests in Russia, and limited flight evaluations. Parallel efforts are advancing an afterburning configuration, commonly referred to as Kaveri 2.0 or the afterburning Kaveri variant.
In February 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh witnessed a successful full afterburner ignition and operation test of the Kaveri derivative engine at GTRE Bengaluru. Following multiple design iterations, material improvements (including enhanced single-crystal turbine blades and advanced thermal barrier coatings), and integration of a new afterburner module developed with industry partners such as BrahMos Aerospace, the engine demonstrated thrust in the 80–83 kN range during afterburning mode. This positions the afterburning Kaveri 2.0 closer to the thrust class of contemporary fighter engines like the GE F404 (used in Tejas Mk1A) and opens the possibility of future integration into manned fighter platforms after additional qualification and flight testing.
Only a limited number of countries possess fully integrated, state-of-the-art aero-engine test complexes that include all these capabilities in a single ecosystem:
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United States – Extensive infrastructure at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), with large high-altitude simulation cells and specialised component rigs.
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France – Advanced altitude and propulsion test facilities at CEPr (Centre d’Essais des Propulseurs).
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Russia – Long-established high-altitude simulation chambers and component test beds.
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China – Rapidly expanded high-altitude simulation platforms and large-scale test complexes in recent years.
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United Kingdom and Germany – Sophisticated test infrastructure operated by industry (e.g., Rolls-Royce) and research organisations.
The NAETC will enable faster design validation, reduce the financial and logistical burden of overseas testing, shorten certification timelines, allow greater control over proprietary technologies, and strengthen national security in a strategically sensitive domain. It will benefit multiple programmes, including further maturation of the Kaveri family, development of next-generation high-thrust engines for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and other military propulsion requirements.
The RFI invites detailed responses from Indian companies, global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), specialised test-facility integrators, joint ventures, and consortia with proven experience in building advanced aero-engine test infrastructure. Industry submissions, initially due in mid-June following the RFI release, will help refine technical specifications, cost estimates, and implementation models. Subsequent steps include stakeholder consultations and progression toward formal procurement, contingent on Defence Acquisition Council approval.
This project forms part of India’s broader push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence aviation and aligns with parallel international cooperation efforts, including the National Aero Engine Mission, engagements with France, and joint studies with the United Kingdom, aimed at building sustained capability in aero-propulsion technologies.
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