Why India’s Kaveri Engine Project Is Trending — and Why It Matters?

Following the May 7 Operation Sindoor, the online campaign ‘Fund Kaveri Engine’ has rapidly gained momentum, capturing widespread public interest. The movement is making waves on social media, where thousands are rallying behind the push for investment in indigenous defence technology, particularly to lessen the country’s dependence on foreign-built fighter jet engines.

What is the Kaveri Engine?

The phrase *‘Fund Kaveri Engine’* has recently become a focal point of national discussion. But what exactly is the Kaveri Engine, and why is it significant for India’s defence strategy?

The Kaveri engine is a homegrown turbojet engine developed specifically for India’s light combat aircraft initiatives. Its primary function is to serve as the propulsion system for fighter jets.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bengaluru, has been at the helm of this ambitious project. Despite facing a number of roadblocks — ranging from technological complexity and Western sanctions to a shortage of skilled personnel and heavy reliance on overseas systems — the effort has continued.

“Concurrent certification coverage was provided by RCMA(E). Certification methodology for fighter-class engine has been evolved for raw material, components, systems, LRUs, and full engine-level qualification for the first time in India,” DRDO had said.

Although the project was separated from the Tejas programme in 2008, a derivative of the Kaveri engine is currently being developed. This newer version is intended for the next-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation fighter. Plans are also in place for it to power unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) and potentially naval vessels.

Social media surge

Online platforms have seen a surge of support from defence analysts and enthusiasts alike, all urging the government to renew its commitment to the Kaveri engine. Once a project that languished for decades after its launch in the 1980s, it is now being held up as a cornerstone of India's aspiration for technological self-sufficiency in defence.

Many citizens are appealing directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for dedicated funding and renewed focus on completing the Kaveri engine. Their message highlights the urgency of building an indigenous ecosystem for military aviation.

With its critical role in strengthening India's defence infrastructure, the consensus on social media is clear: India must aim to produce its own gas turbine engines, reducing reliance on imports from countries such as the United States, Russia, and France.