New Delhi, July 23: In a major boost to India’s indigenous defence and aerospace capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed the country’s first indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine in the 350 kg thrust class.

Designed by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), the engine has been manufactured and assembled by Azad Engineering Limited, Hyderabad, marking a significant milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in advanced propulsion technologies.

Engine Successfully Delivered

On July 22, 2026, Azad Engineering successfully completed the manufacturing and assembly of the engine and formally delivered it to GTRE.

The achievement represents the culmination of years of research, precision engineering, advanced manufacturing, and close collaboration between India’s scientific community and defence industry.

A Technology Mastered by Few Nations

Jet engine technology is regarded as one of the world’s most complex engineering disciplines, requiring expertise in:

  • Advanced metallurgy.
  • High-temperature materials.
  • Precision machining.
  • Complex aerodynamic design.
  • Stringent manufacturing standards.

Only a handful of countries possess indigenous capabilities to design and manufacture such engines, making this development a significant achievement for India.

Public-Private Partnership

GTRE partnered with Azad Engineering for manufacturing and assembly under DRDO’s industry collaboration model.

The engine was formally handed over by Azad Engineering CEO Rakesh Chopdar to:

  • Dr. K. Rajalakshmi Menon, Distinguished Scientist and Director General (Aeronautical Systems), DRDO.
  • Dr. S. V. Ramanamurty, Outstanding Scientist and Director, GTRE.

Defence Secretary Congratulates Team

Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh congratulated both GTRE and Azad Engineering for their successful partnership.

He said the collaboration between DRDO and Indian industry has transformed a long-term vision into a historic milestone, demonstrating the growing technological strength of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Strengthening Aatmanirbhar Bharat

The successful development of the indigenous expendable turbojet engine is expected to strengthen India’s capability in advanced aerospace propulsion and support future indigenous defence platforms.

The achievement also reinforces the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by reducing dependence on imported propulsion technologies and expanding India’s expertise in one of the most strategically important areas of defence research and development.

The successful delivery of the engine is being seen as another major milestone in India’s quest to become a global hub for advanced aerospace and defence manufacturing.