Source: Reference news
Reference News Network reported on October 21 A defense official in charge of India's domestic aircraft engine manufacturing project on October 17 revealed that India is expected to spend 65,4 billion rupees ($74,4 billion) to purchase engines for the fighter aircraft under development by 2035.
Ramana Murti, of the Indian Institute of Gas Turbines, said India will need about 1,100 engines for several fighter aircraft projects that are at different stages.
India's decades-old plan to try to power the Tejas light fighter jet with domestically produced Kaveri engines has not been launched due to technical flaws.
"It is necessary to work in mission mode to create an ecosystem for domestically produced fighter engines," Murthy said at an event in New Delhi. He also said India needs infrastructure, such as an high-altitude testing facility, and an industrial base.
He also said the derivatives of the Caveri engines could be used in a domestic drone.
Murti is leading India's joint engine development with an international partner in an attempt to power India's first fifth-generation stealth fighter. Safran of France, Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom and General Electric of the United States have all expressed interest.
Indian officials have previously said a prototype of the fighter jet-known as the Advanced Medium Fighter-is expected to be launched in 2028. (Compiled/Qiu Fang)