DRDO develops India's 1st indigenous expendable turbojet engine

India has achieved a significant breakthrough in indigenous aerospace propulsion technology with the successful development of its first indigenous expendable turbo jet engine in the 350 kg thrust class, marking a major milestone in the country's defence manufacturing capabilities.
According to agency reports, the engine, designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), was successfully realised and delivered by Hyderabad-based Azad Engineering on July 22. The project reflects close collaboration between DRDO and the domestic defence industry under India's push for self-reliance in critical technologies.
GTRE had selected Azad Engineering as its industry partner for the manufacturing and assembly of the engine. The successful delivery marks the culmination of years of precision engineering, advanced manufacturing and technological collaboration between India's scientific and industrial communities.The engine was formally handed over by Azad Engineering CEO Rakesh Chopdar to DRDO's Director General (Aeronautical Systems), Dr. K. Rajalakshmi Menon, and GTRE Director Dr. S. V. Ramanamurty during a ceremony held on Tuesday.
Jet engine technology is considered among the most complex engineering disciplines, demanding exceptional precision, advanced metallurgy and stringent manufacturing standards. According to the Ministry of Defence, only a handful of countries possess this capability, making India's successful development of an indigenous expendable turbo jet engine a landmark achievement for its aerospace and defence ecosystem.The ministry said the engine, based on a DRDO design, showcases the growing technological capabilities of India's defence industry and its ability to manufacture sophisticated propulsion systems domestically.
Defence Secretary, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh congratulated GTRE and Azad Engineering for the achievement. He said the partnership between the research establishment and industry had played a crucial role in transforming the vision into a historic milestone, further strengthening India's defence and aerospace capabilities.