India Develops First Indigenous 350 kg Thrust Turbojet Engine

India has developed its first indigenous expendable turbojet engine in the 350 kg thrust class. Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) through its Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), the project transitioned a design into a flight-ready propulsion system using superalloys and precision manufacturing within approximately 24 months.

On July 22, 2026, Hyderabad-based Azad Engineering delivered the completed engine to GTRE officials. The engine will support naval anti-ship missiles, medium-range anti-drone systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and various air-to-air and air-to-surface missile platforms. The Ministry of Defence of India described the achievement as a significant step toward self-reliance in aerospace and defence technologies, noting that jet engine technology is among the world's most complex engineering disciplines.

DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that the collaboration between the scientific community and the domestic industrial sector was instrumental in reaching this milestone. The engine was formally handed over by Azad Engineering CEO Rakesh Chopdar to GTRE Director Dr. S.V. Ramanamurty and Director General (Aeronautical Systems) Dr. K. Rajalakshmi Menon.