DRDO develops India's first indigenous 350-kg thrust class expendable turbojet engine
Jul 23, 2026
New Delhi [India], July 23 : The first indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine of 350 kg thrust class, designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), has been successfully developed.
GTRE had identified Azad Engineering, Hyderabad, as an industry partner for the manufacturing and assembly of the engine, as per the release.
On July 22, the engine was successfully realised and delivered to GTRE by Azad Engineering, a landmark achievement for India's aerospace and defence ecosystem. The delivery marks the culmination of years of precision engineering, advanced manufacturing, and close partnership between India's scientific & industrial communities.
Mastered by only a handful of nations, jet engine technology is widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated engineering disciplines in the world, demanding exceptional precision, advanced metallurgy, and uncompromising manufacturing standards. Delivery of such a complex system based on the design of DRDO reflects the growing technological capabilities of the Indian Defence Industry.
The engine was handed over to Distinguished Scientist & Director General (Aeronautical Systems) K Rajalakshmi Menon and Outstanding Scientist and Director GTRE SV Ramanamurty by CEO Azad Engineering Shri Rakesh Chopdar.
Defence Secretary and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO Rajesh Kumar Singh complimented the partnership of GTRE and industry that has been instrumental in transforming the vision into a historic milestone.