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Feb 1 20 tweets 7 min read Read on X
The $250 million was among the best-spent funds on any program in the country, and it is the primary reason why any international engine house is offering to co-develop a 5th gen engine (T/W > 10). Image
We developed DMS3 back in 2002, then DMS4, DMRL learned from HAL Koraput and eventually out did the Russians

The blades were more advanced than whatever HAL was making for AL31 Image
DMD4 was developed after that based on DMS4.

DMRL already supplied, 300 CMSX4 HPT blades to HAL for helicopter engine application

And "DMRL undertook this task based on its expertise gained during the development of such a technology for an aero-engine project earlier" Image
Image
Also I think we fiddle around a lot with AL31, or whatever DMRL guys were allowed to do with it

One of them was TBC materials were synthesized from minerals like zircon (zirconium silicate) and monazite available in Indian beach sands
They developed a method to produce high-purity Lanthanum Zirconate (LZ) and Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ).

The development involved a bi-layer structure where Lanthanum Zirconate (LZ) is applied as a top coat over a YSZ layer
They utilized an Air Plasma Spray (APS) process to apply these nano structured coatings to the exhaust nozzle parts of an aeroengine

The coating was tested on aeroengine flaps during an accelerated endurance test equivalent to 1,000 hours of engine operation. Image
Image
ARCI in Hydrabad has already developed EBPVD and Axial plasma spray, which can be used to YSZ type TBC coatings

They have also carried out research on NiCoCrAlY, NiCoCrAlHfYSi, CoNiCrAlY, NiCoCrAlTaY coats using Axial Plasma Spray. Image
Image
Also Polymer Matrix Composite based bypass duct was also developed for weight reduction Image
DMRL has established the near isothermal forging technology, the technology was transferred to MIDHANI

They supplied some 200 HPC discs for Adour, this tech will also find its use in next gen engine Image
Image
MIDHANI has also done their fair share under the program

They are also bidding for HAL's 20,000 Ton Isothermal Press tender Image
Image
We have also developed a new fan to meet the stealth requirements of Ghatak UCAV which will have serpentine intake

And anti-icing 3D printed IGV Image
Image
In 2022 Godrej got a contract for 8 modules of KDE, a non afterburning TF derived from original Kaveri

For which MIDHANI, HAL, PTC etc have supplied critical components

DRDO likes to groom the private sector more nowadays Image
Another major achievement was FADEC, which has been designed, developed and qualified indigenously.

The first production engine called D1 has been reportedly delivered.

Also a Tejas is being modifed to fit the afterburning variant by HAL

Kaveri is not in any way a failure, it will have its use as KDE in greater numbers with Ghatak UCAV for which two DcPP exists, one being L&T

And the technology developed for it will find its use in countless other projects Image
Now the plan is to co-develop a 5th gen engine with TET of 2100K, with Powder Metallurgy Discs and Single Crystal Blades with EBPVD coatings, CMC for nozzle petals and bypass ducts, 3D Blading and Advanced Blade Cooling to improve efficiency

And establishing testing facilities Image
GTRE has issued an EoI to identify an Indian industry partner for manufacturing and assembly of an Indigenous Advanced High Thrust Aero Engine and shortlist a DcPP partner

newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Ja…
11 sub-systems, 34 assemblies, 125 sub-assemblies, 2,500 components. Includes compressors, combustor, turbines, afterburner, gearbox, fuel & oil systems, digital control units
DcPP will be responsible for production engineering, component manufacturing, sub assembly, final assembly, quality assurance, documentation, and compliance with aerospace standards

18 development engines over 10 years; potential production contract for up to 200 engines later.
This new engine will be used in AMCA, Tejas Mk2 MLU, and TEDBF and potential for any next gen aircraft

GTRE will be the lead design authority while another company most likely HAL will be the lead integrator along with industry partners like Tata, L&T, etc.

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More from @ShiroBarks

Feb 4
AMCA is a 25-ton, proper fifth-generation platform that has undergone 20 iterations to finalize the aircraft’s shaping and achieve an optimal stealth geometry. The project involves more than 100 design centers. 🧵

📷@Kuntal__biswas Image
It is the result of institutional knowledge developed from Tejas program. The fighter will be capable of doing many types of missions including air superiority, ground strikes, SEAD. Image
Starting from 3B-01 to 3B-09 design configrations were studied using CAD, low-speed and highspeed wind tunnel testing at NAL/HAL and RCS testing. Image
Image
Image
Read 18 tweets
Dec 30, 2025
In 1972, DRDL launched a secret project with an objective to reverse engineer SA-2 Surface to air missiles, acquired in the 1960s from USSR in seven years

📷 @VinodDX9 Image
The name was given by DCAS Shivdev Singh, given V.S. Narayanan(director of DRDL) used to behave like the devil at work.
V.S. Narayanan began a massive drive to recruit scientists and set up the infrastructure necessary. He had the power to sanction one lakh rupees at that time.

To bypass this limitation and babus in delhi, he split purchases into smaller amounts Image
Read 28 tweets
Nov 22, 2025
The 1974 Test device was little over four feet in diameter, and weighted around 1.4 tons. The Plutonium generated by Cirus reactor's fuel rods was used to make the first bomb

In 1970 the main plutonium extraction plant suffered a leak and was shut down leading to shortage of Pu Image
Engineers first thought they could restart the plant within a year, but by late 1972 they told Ramanna it would take about another year
Ramanna couldn't wait, so in January 1973 he shut down the Purnima-I reactor, only eight months after it went critical and had Roy's team melt its plutonium oxide fuel rods to obtain enough pure plutonium for the test.
Read 14 tweets
Oct 18, 2025
With MIDHANI set up in Hyderabad, India indigenized key titanium alloys for aerospace in forms like billets, rods, plates & sheets.

It produces up to 4-ton billets & covers all 3 classes: α, α+β & β. MIDHANI supports both Western & Russian engine alloy needs. Image
Ti-6Al-4V, a key titanium alloy for aerospace, needs high structural integrity & strict ultrasonic inspectability (e.g. 1.2 mm FBH). The Initial Hot Processing Schedule with β and α+β forging plus 700°C annealing gave poor clarity & coarse structure. Image
The Revised Schedule added β transus soak, water quenching & ~950°C annealing, yielding a refined bimodal microstructure with better soundness & UST performance. Image
Read 13 tweets
Oct 16, 2025
PFBR is not the first breeder reactor in the country, India has been operating Fast Breeder Test Reactor since 1985, a 40 MWt research reactor to provide the experience for follow up 500 MWe PFBR. Image
In a moderator reactor, the neutrons have very high energy and they are immediately slowed down by the moderator (ie heavy water), while in fast reactor neutrons are not moderated
The probability of fission is lower for fast neutrons compared to slow neutrons because fast neutrons are less likely to be captured by a nucleus, known as the Doppler broadening effect.
Read 18 tweets
Mar 12, 2025
Complete Info about Kaveri Engine (1/2)🧵 Image
➡️Kaveri, or GTX-35VS, is an afterburning turbofan engine.
➡️GOI sanctioned the project in 1989 with a budget of ₹382.21 crore.
➡️GTRE had already developed an engine called GTX37-14U, which was an IDDM turbojet engine. Image
➡️Another engine, called GTX37-14UB, was developed on top of it and was a turbofan engine.
➡️The Kaveri borrows its KABINI core from it. Image
Read 25 tweets

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