Indian Homegrown Aero-Engine: India has taken a strong step towards building its own defence power. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that making aero-engines in India is now a top goal. He made this announcement during the International Seminar on Aero-Engine Technologies, held at Subroto Park in New Delhi. T
The seminar was organized to mark the birth anniversary of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, on April 15. The event was hosted by the Air Force Association and arranged by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
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Many important people from the armed forces, defence research centres, and aerospace companies came together at this event. The defence minister gave his speech soon after the sad Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.
The timing made his message even more serious. Rajnath Singh clearly said, “India cannot afford to depend on others for propulsion power. Without mastering aero-engine technology, true self-reliance in defence will remain incomplete.”
“The cross-Atlantic power equations of the 20th century have now shifted towards Asia and have come closer to us. Today, the Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the most important region in the world strategically. The change that we have witnessed has a direct relation with our national security,” Singh said.
Indian Homegrown Aero-Engine: Why It Matter for India’s Defence
India has already made good progress in building its own fighter jets, like the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. But the country still depends on other nations for the jet engines that power these aircraft. This makes India’s defence weaker and slower in times of crisis.
The minister shared that the government now wants to move faster on projects like the Kaveri engine. He also said it’s important to build strong teams between government labs and private companies. He added that India will work to bring in foreign companies who can help build engines here, but only if they share their technology too.
According to ET, Singh termed aero-engine development a “priority area” for the government, in view of the needs of the IAF. “The effort is to make this engine in India only on the model of co-development and co-production with full intellectual property rights,” he said.
The seminar also discussed that India needs steady long-term plans, more money for research, and training for engineers to support engine-making. Rajnath Singh stressed that making engines in India will stop delays caused by relying on other countries. It will also improve repairs and maintenance in India and give the country more control over its air power.
The deadly attack in Pahalgam just a day before the seminar gave the discussions a sense of urgency. Experts at the event said that to fight back fast during threats, India needs strong air power and quick-moving forces, especially in tough places like the mountains.
