India's AMCA: Why a Powerful Engine is the Key to Dominating the Skies

The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program is India's ticket to owning the future of air combat. At the core of this ambitious project, the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) is making bold moves with a next-generation engine that could give the AMCA a decisive edge.

Speed without Sacrifice​

Imagine a fighter jet that can break the sound barrier without burning through its fuel reserves. That's the power of "supercruise", and the GTRE engine aims to do just that with its remarkable dry thrust.

For the AMCA, this translates to lightning-fast response times and the ability to cover huge distances quickly – crucial for both offensive and defensive missions.

Built for India's Challenges​

Heat and dry air – conditions that can limit a jet engine's performance – are a reality for India. The GTRE's design specifically targets this problem. This engine is built to deliver consistent power even in harsh climates, making sure AMCA pilots have the muscle they need, when they need it.

Power to Rival the Best​

This engine isn't just about efficiency; it packs a punch. When afterburners kick in, expect power levels on par with the engines in India's current workhorse, the Su-30MKI. This gives the AMCA the raw force to go head-to-head with the world's best fighter aircraft.

Beyond the AMCA​

The technology powering the AMCA won't stay confined to one program. This engine has the potential to pave the way for India's future 6th-generation fighter jets, ensuring the country stays at the leading edge of aerial combat.

The Path to Self-Reliance​

Success with this engine is about more than just better planes. It's a leap forward for India's aerospace industry, proving the nation's ability to mastermind and build the most sophisticated jet engine technology independently.

 

[Pink Panther]

GTRE can aim anything, but can they come up with a powerful engine without external help on time at-least in 2035 timeframe, time is the essence here.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Saam-Daam-Dand-Bhed, do anything but get this technology working, because no country, I repeat, no country will help us achieve self reliance in this nation-building and ultra-critical technology.

 

[Anant]

GTRE can aim anything, but can they come up with a powerful engine without external help on time at-least in 2035 timeframe, time is the essence here.

Without external help? Hmm... How does 2135 sound?

 

[sanket]

First Finalise Foreign partner for AMCA 110 kN Engine Development .

 

[Deepak Hegde]

Its amazing how the Indian Govt gets pulled wool over its eye by these DPSU's. They have not yet delivered a simple engine that is any use for any kind of aircraft and they talk of next gen engine !! Amazing level of stupidity and non-accountability !!

 

[AK S]

Saam-Daam-Dand-Bhed, do anything but get this technology working, because no country, I repeat, no country will help us achieve self reliance in this nation-building and ultra-critical technology.

That’s so true. Daam part is particularly important. So far we have only invested peanuts

 

[desigandu]

The fighter engine tech is probably the most crucial technology that India must have domestically - beg, borrow, steal, buy, make, collaborate, JV and in any/all combinations...But let us benchmark properly - F-35s have 125/191 Kn single engine thrust; F-22 have 116/156 Kn thrust with dual engines (232/312) and NGAD adaptive cycle engines are likely to have 150/200 Kn thrust with dual engines (300/400)...Even if we develop (by 2035 at the earliest, optimistically) a 75/130 Kn engine, we will still be at least 20 years behind the cutting edge (NGADs start flying by 2030)...Important to know where we stand in terms of numbers...I am all for domestic efforts as that is the only long term solution, but would caution against undue optimism or alarmism in our discourse..

 

[desigandu]

Saam-Daam-Dand-Bhed, do anything but get this technology working, because no country, I repeat, no country will help us achieve self reliance in this nation-building and ultra-critical technology.

and why would they help - US, Soviets/Russians, French, UK and China have all done it themselves.. obviously there has been inspiration and theft, thus we must do whatever it takes to master fighter engine technology...

 

[Akshat]

GTRE can aim anything, but can they come up with a powerful engine without external help on time at-least in 2035 timeframe, time is the essence here.

They can't come up with a fully functioning Kaveri. Never mind the time.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

You are trying for a JV for so many years but it's not progressing well. You will have to have an indigenous dev program. Unless you are near breakthrough no one will part away with their bleeding edge tech for a few billion dollars.

 

[Pramkumar]

Unless and otherwise they produce the Kaveri engine and use it in Tejas the dream of 110 kn engine will remain a dream only

First we need to mass produce the Kaveri engine and ORCA should be a Kaveri twin engine variant of fighter

 

[Kailash]

GTRE can aim anything, but can they come up with a powerful engine without external help on time at-least in 2035 timeframe, time is the essence here.

The idea should be to fly what we have, by putting in on a specially modified LCA with a lowered weight. Western houses like snecma/ge will never "really" help with Kaveri, they have direct conflict of interest.

 

[Kailash]

They can't come up with a fully functioning Kaveri. Never mind the time.

They should warp something around the existing engine, and keep adding tech as research agencies perfect things, or we manage to steal/buy something..

Time to to prioritize autonomy and mass produced numbers than top technology. Got sake, we are still flying Jaguars and Mirages from 40 years ago. An overweight underperforming Kaveri is much better tech than anything fielded in these aircrafts.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

The last time MoD trusted them with the development of Kaveri, they lied on progress of project and unnecessarily delayed the LCA induction by over 15 years. They kept feeding incorrect and blatant false status information to MoD and when time came to be tested, it flunked miserably.

So I am of opinion GTRE is utterly incapable of developing an engine and sure give them a change again but don't depend on them and instead rope in the private sector such as Godrej and Bharat Forge to resolve metallurgy issues. Recent contract given to Godrej to build new Kaveri-2 prototypes, is a step in right direction, persist with it.

Under no circumstances should GTRE be allowed to influence MoD to link AMCA development with that of Kaveri-2. Sure let them develop it in parallel, but AMCA development cannot be allowed to be held hostage to the possibility of successful development of Kaveri-2 especially given GTRE's past track record. When its proves itself after undergoing flight trials, we can think about incorporating it at la later stage but not now. Somebody should strongly advise GTRE to stop jumping gun and work on proving the dry engine first on UAV.

 

[Akshat]

They should warp something around the existing engine, and keep adding tech as research agencies perfect things, or we manage to steal/buy something..

Time to to prioritize autonomy and mass produced numbers than top technology. Got sake, we are still flying Jaguars and Mirages from 40 years ago. An overweight underperforming Kaveri is much better tech than anything fielded in these aircrafts.

So you are fine with our pilots dying just for the sake of justifying the salaries of GTRE employees? Because the last time they strapped Kaveri to a flying machine it ended up blasting off in sky. Luckily it was as a 4 engine machine unlike LCA. You are fine with our pilots being blown up like that?

 

[Anurag]

So you are fine with our pilots dying just for the sake of justifying the salaries of GTRE employees? Because the last time they strapped Kaveri to a flying machine it ended up blasting off in sky. Luckily it was as a 4 engine machine unlike LCA. You are fine with our pilots being blown up like that?

So due to failure one must stop trying things, every thing at start has some issues.

Still not able to select the engine for AMCA mk2 and then delay is going to happen for sure!!

 

[Sandeep]

The last time MoD trusted them with the development of Kaveri, they lied on progress of project and unnecessarily delayed the LCA induction by over 15 years. They kept feeding incorrect and blatant false status information to MoD and when time came to be tested, it flunked miserably.

So I am of opinion GTRE is utterly incapable of developing an engine and sure give them a change again but don't depend on them and instead rope in the private sector such as Godrej and Bharat Forge to resolve metallurgy issues. Recent contract given to Godrej to build new Kaveri-2 prototypes, is a step in right direction, persist with it.

Under no circumstances should GTRE be allowed to influence MoD to link AMCA development with that of Kaveri-2. Sure let them develop it in parallel, but AMCA development cannot be allowed to be held hostage to the possibility of successful development of Kaveri-2 especially given GTRE's past track record. When its proves itself after undergoing flight trials, we can think about incorporating it at la later stage but not now. Somebody should strongly advise GTRE to stop jumping gun and work on proving the dry engine first on UAV.

A deal with Safran has already been made to develop a brand new clean engine which will give India 100% of the technology, local production and freely able to sell it to whoever and without any permission or veto given by France. India will never get a better opportunity to learn about such a advanced technology.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

A deal with Safran has already been made to develop a brand new clean engine which will give India 100% of the technology, local production and freely able to sell it to whoever and without any permission or veto given by France. India will never get a better opportunity to learn about such a advanced technology.

All a well and good but if the GTRE is any way involved in project then I have zero hopes from anything worthwhile materializing from it.

 

[Kiran Kumar]

Aiming big, but result is low. Years are passing but, no improvement. Learn reverse Engineering like China