Tejas Set to Fly with Indian-Made Dry Kaveri with Afterburner, 80kN Milestone May Replace GE F404-IN20 Engine

In a major leap toward self-reliance in military aviation, India is preparing to flight-test the Dry Kaveri jet engine — now upgraded with a new afterburner — on a Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). This effort, led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), could dramatically change the propulsion future of India’s fighter fleet if successful.

The Kaveri engine, long in the making since its inception in 1989, was initially meant to power indigenous combat aircraft but struggled with delays and technological hurdles. Now, with renewed momentum and upgraded performance, the program is entering a critical new phase. The modified version of the Dry Kaveri engine, originally designed for India’s stealthy Ghatak unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), has demonstrated 49-50 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust in recent ground tests. With the integration of a domestically developed afterburner, scientists aim to boost that to around 80 kN — on par with the 78.7 kN thrust produced by the current General Electric F404-IN20 engine that powers the Tejas Mk1A.

This level of thrust, if achieved reliably and safely, opens the door for replacing the American engines across the Tejas Mk1A fleet. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has 83 Mk1A aircraft on order and plans for 97 more, making engine indigenization not just strategic, but economically essential.

The upcoming flight tests will take place using an older Limited Series Production (LSP) model of the Tejas. Though the IAF has expressed concern about testing an uncertified engine on a single-engine aircraft — recommending instead a twin-engine or unmanned testbed — GTRE has chosen to proceed with the Tejas platform, reflecting growing confidence in the engine’s maturity.

Before this airborne validation, final high-altitude performance trials are planned in Russia at the Gromov Flight Research Institute in September 2025. There, the Kaveri will be mounted on a modified Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transport aircraft, replacing one of its four engines to assess in-flight behavior under extreme conditions.

While there are still technical hurdles to clear, including weight — the Kaveri tips the scales at around 1,180 kg compared to the GE F404’s 1,036 kg — efforts are underway to reduce this gap. GTRE is working closely with Indian metallurgy experts and organizations like Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) to develop lightweight yet heat-resistant materials.

The broader ambition is to create Kaveri 2.0, a future version with a thrust of 83-85 kN, making it suitable not only for Tejas Mk1A but potentially the upcoming twin-engine fighter jets India plans to develop. Full certification for the Dry Kaveri is currently targeted for 2032 — a timeline that aligns with future procurement and replacement cycles.

Meanwhile, the announcement comes amidst growing global interest in Indian defence technology. In a tweet earlier this week, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant praised India’s strides in aerospace innovation, saying, “India’s drive for self-reliance in defence technology is remarkable. Indigenous engine development like the Kaveri will define the next era of strategic autonomy. We look forward to deeper cooperation.”

This backing highlights the increasing confidence international partners have in India’s indigenous capabilities and its aspirations to become a global defence manufacturing hub.

If the upcoming trials succeed, India could not only reduce its dependence on foreign-made engines but also open the door to exporting fully indigenous fighter aircraft in the future — an achievement that would place it among a select group of nations with end-to-end military aviation capabilities.