DRDO Seeks Partners to Co-Develop Kaveri Engine for LCA Tejas Fighter Jet

In the process of scouting for a partner to develop higher thrust engine for its ambitious Light Combat Aircraft and
the present version will take to the skies in 2010, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Saturday.

"LCA will be a reality. For higher thrust engine, we must have a new engine. We are looking for a partner to develop this," he told reporters after inaugurating the new campus of Defence Avionics Research and Establishment (DARE), a premium research unit for avionics at DRDO complex. IAF and DRDO are working jointly towards this, he said.
IAF has already placed orders for 20 LCA and orders for another 20 was in the pipeline, Antony said, and denied that IAF was not interested in these aircraft. Earlier, addressing the gathering, Antony stressed the need for developing indigenous technologies to counter the challenges posed by import restrictions and technology transfers. He said the country would have to face problems if scientists did not develop indigenous technologies and the state-of-the-art equipment in the field of aeronautics.

DRDO located in Bangalore, an IT and technology hub, has been entrusted with the task for delivering high precision system to IAF, he said. Antony said scientists should aim to minimize costs and cut down time with minimum dependence on foreign assistance. "Our endeavor is to develop cutting edge technologies and we will give required support," he said.