‘Tejas Ko Hindustani Dil Dedo’: Fund Kaveri Engine Trends As Netizens Push For Indigenous Jet Engine Development

Monday is a day to kickstart a new week and plan the things we want to complete in the upcoming time. And it was the perfect day for Indian netizens to trend a hashtag that the country was in dire need of. The Kaveri Jet Engine, a project started in the early 80s, aimed to eliminate the dependency of the Indian aviation sector on foreign manufacturers and start building engines for our fighter jets indigenously.

Indian X users started #FundKaveriEngine on X, and it sparked a revolution in the Indian defence fandom and among experts. All of them raised their voices in unison, making this hashtag the top trend of the day.

Many users urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to divert more funds towards this project, highlighting its critical role in national interest. The initiative aims to eliminate India's reliance on foreign engines for fighter jets and advance self-reliance in defence technology.

Using the hashtag #FundKaveriEngine, people voiced national pride and stressed the strategic significance of achieving defence self-sufficiency.

Here Are Some of The Best Tweets on #FundKaveriEngine

The sole reason for starting the movement to fund indigenous jet engines was the delays Indian jets are facing in manufacturing, because we are dependent on foreign countries for jet engines. If we have our own engines, it will be easier to fulfill the requirements of Indian Air Defence.

What is the Kaveri Engine Project?
 The Kaveri Engine is an indigenous fighter jet engine developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment, a division of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The engine is a low-bypass, twin-spool turbofan engine designed to generate around 80 kN of thrust, and it was originally intended to power the Tejas, a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).


 This engine comes with a flat-rated design to reduce thrust loss under high-speed and high-temperature conditions. It also features a twin-lane Full Authority Digital Engine Control System, which increases engine control, with a manual backup to enhance reliability. All of these features help ensure consistent performance across a range of operative environments.

Launched in the 1980s, the project was envisioned to reduce India’s dependency on imported jet engines. However, it encountered numerous technical and logistical hurdles, including inadequate thrust output, weight concerns, and delays caused by international sanctions following India’s 1998 nuclear tests.
 Although it was officially removed from the Tejas program in 2008, work continues on a derivative version for platforms such as the Ghatak stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). Recent developments, including in-flight testing and contributions from private firms like Godrej Aerospace, which supplied critical engine modules, have revitalized the project.

Challenges and Delays of the Kaveri Jet Engine Project
 The Kaveri Engine project has experienced long delays due to a mix of complex technological and structural issues:

  • Advanced Technology Development: Creating sophisticated subsystems such as aerothermal components, metallurgy, and control systems from scratch posed significant challenges.

  • Sanctions and Resource Constraints: International sanctions restricted access to vital materials like single-crystal turbine blades.

  • Lack of Infrastructure: The absence of domestic high-altitude testing facilities meant reliance on foreign centres like Russia’s CIAM.

  • Shortage of Skilled Experts: Limited availability of experienced personnel in jet engine design slowed progress.

  • Unrealistic Timelines: Initial expectations of deploying the engine in the Tejas without thorough testing led to project strain.

  • Breakdown of International Partnerships: Failed collaborations, notably with the French aerospace firm Snecma, further set back development.

Despite the setbacks, the Kaveri Engine remains a strategically important effort in India’s pursuit of defence self-reliance, and recent advancements point toward renewed potential for its future success.

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