Challenges in India’s defence modernisation: Kaveri engines and Tejas MK-1

印度国防现代化的挑战：Kaveri发动机和光辉MK-1战机

The conversation explores the pressing need for a cohesive national security strategy, the evolving role of the Kaveri engine in India’s indigenous combat drones, and the inclusion of private players in the defence sector. It also addresses the reliance on imports for critical technologies, the importance of choosing reliable geopolitical partners, and the challenges surrounding Transfer of Technology (ToT). This thought-provoking dialogue sheds light on the complexties of India’s defence landscape and the steps needed to achieve self-reliance.

印度迫切需要有凝聚力的国家安全战略，Kaveri发动机在印度本土作战无人机中的作用，以及将私营企业纳入国防部门。还涉及对关键技术的进口依赖，选择可靠的地缘政治伙伴的重要性，以及围绕技术转让（ToT）的挑战。揭示了印度国防格局的复杂性以及实现自力更生所需的步骤。

以下是外国网友的评论：

ashutoshtan

The discussion highlighted critical gaps in indigenous development, emphasizing the importance of advanced R&D, strategic partnerships, and infrastructure enhancement.

突出了本土研发方面的关键差距，强调了先进研发、战略伙伴关系和加强基础设施的重要性。

CochinKerala

I've been reading about the Kaveri engine in newspapers and on the internet since the early 2000s. Its 2025 and we are yet to see it operational. But during this time two perhaps three generations of engineers and bureaucrats who worked on the project have retired from HAL, DRDO, BHEL, BEL, etc and are enjoying their pensions. And every year we are promised to see it inducted on Tejus by the end of the year. This year more engineers and bureaucrats will also retire while they promise to induct Kaveri in the next year.

自2000年以来，我一直在报纸和网上读到关于Kaveri发动机的报道。现在是2025年，我们还没有看到它投入使用。但在此期间，参与该项目的两代或三代工程师和官员已经从印度斯坦航空公司、印度国防研究发展组织、BHEL、BEL等机构退休，享受养老金。每年我们都承诺在今年年底前看到这个发动机安装到“光辉”战机上。今年，更多的工程师和官员也将退休，他们承诺明年让Kaveri发动机安装到战机上。

obsidianstatue

Indian defense analysts really needs to update their info.

China's WS-10 series has been in production for years and used on many Chinese fighters, WS-15 5th gen engine capable of supersonic cruise has also entered production.

In fact, every single fighter in China that's in production right now are equipped with Chinese engines.

印度国防分析人士真的需要更新他们的信息。

中国WS-10系列已经生产多年，并安装在许多中国战斗机上了，能够超音速巡航的WS-15第五代发动机也已进入生产。

事实上，中国现在生产的每一架战斗机都配备了国产发动机。

mayankamukherjee

It is disappointing that even in 2025 we are so behind in defence tech and Tejas isn't delivered.

令人失望的是，即使到2025年，我们国防技术也如此落后，光辉战机也没有交付。

adder88

According to Wikipedia, the development of WS10 originated in the 1980s, using the core engine technology of CFM56, which is the same as the core engine of F110-GE-129IPE in the United States. Combined with the WS6 technology that had already been discontinued in China at that time, the WS10 series aircraft engine was developed. After continuous improvement, the technology only matured in 2012. The thrust of its latest engine WS10G is currently close to that of the US F119, reaching 156 kN. The thrust of WS15 has reached 182 kN, with a thrust to weight ratio of 10.78. Russians will not sell aircraft engine technology.

据维基百科介绍，WS10的研制始于20世纪80年代，采用CFM56的核心发动机技术，与美国F110-GE-129IPE的核心发动机相同。结合当时在中国已经停产的WS6技术，研制了WS10系列航空发动机。经过不断改进，直到2012年技术才成熟。其最新款发动机WS10G的推力目前已接近美国F119，达到156千牛。WS15的推力达到182 kN，推重比为10.78。俄罗斯不会出售飞机发动机技术。

lilunchengsmiles

China’s leapfrogging is built on three key foundations:

1.Breaking through in advanced engine materials and achieving independent manufacturing of cutting-edge engines—a monumental leap from being unable to produce them to mastering the technology.

2.Constructing the most advanced wind tunnel in the world, showcasing significant progress in aerospace capabilities.

3.Develo the ability to independently manufacture advanced electronics, further solidifying its technological independence.

中国的跨越式发展建立在三个关键基础之上：

1.突破先进发动机材料，实现尖端发动机自主制造——从无法生产到掌握技术的巨大飞跃。

2.建造世界上最先进的风洞，展示了航空航天能力的重大进步。

3.发展自主制造先进电子产品的能力，进一步巩固技术自主能力。

GuessWhatImage

These people act like 30 odd import fighters can win a war aganist 1000+ J20's.

这些人说得好像30架进口战机就能战胜1000多架歼-20。

yaucharles91

Get this guy out of the interview! He does not even know the progress of Chinese engine developement. Chinese had already deployed WS 10 and 15. At least google and understand.

其中一个嘉宾甚至不知道中国发动机的研发进展。中国的WS - 10和WS - 15已经投入使用了。他们至少要学会倾听和理解。

QIsComingToYou-ew8yl

India bought 4th generation Rafale from France but paid 5th generation price tag. In 78 yrs Indians can’t make your own jet plane or engines. Brahmos is licensed from Russia. Russia does not operate Brahmos.

印度从法国购买了第四代阵风战机，但支付了第五代战机的价格。建国78年了，印度人造不出自己的喷气式飞机或发动机。布拉莫斯导弹是从俄罗斯获得许可的。俄罗斯自己都不用布拉莫斯导弹。

888YangJi

These two think India might just go for AI drones to solve its technology gap with China in fighter aircrafts. Conveniently they forgot the fact that there is a even larger technology gap between China and India in both AI and drones.

他们认为，印度可能会选择人工智能无人机，以解决在战斗机方面与中国的技术差距。他们忘了一个事实，在人工智能和无人机方面，印度与中国存在更大的技术差距。

Shortforfuture

Swasti u Always bang it..... very insightful discussion that provided a detailed analysis of the IAF's current squadron strength, the potential of the Kaveri engine, and the development trajectory of the LCA Tejas. The breakdown of challenges and opportunities was well-articulated, especially the emphasis on indigenous production and its strategic importance for India's defense autonomy. It would be great to explore further on how these advancements align with India's future combat doctrines and the role of public-private partnerships in accelerating progress.

非常有见地的讨论，详细分析了印度空军目前的中队实力，Kaveri发动机的潜力，以及LCA光辉战机的发展轨迹。关于挑战和机遇的分解很好，特别是强调本土生产及其对印度国防自主的战略重要性。进一步探讨这些进步如何与印度未来的作战理论相一致，以及公私伙伴关系在加速进步中的作用。

althea_is_smokin_hot

Madam&Sir, engine and propulsion  are the backbone of entire aviation.

India has been weak in this area from day 1 and continues to be so.

Private sector with in built incentives may be a way out as aviation engines/jet engines are more complex than rocket propulsion.

发动机和推进装置是整个航空业的支柱。

从第一天开始，印度在这方面就很弱，而且仍然这样。

由于航空发动机/喷气发动机比火箭推进更复杂，给私营部门激励措施可能是一条出路。

rasputin4u1

we should have started working with the French/Russians atleast 10 years ago.

我们至少在10年前就应该开始和法国/俄罗斯合作了。

sridharpb2417

Regarding a national security policy, We dont need one to be public yet due to the region we are in. We dont need to ape US for everything.

The region we are in is very dynamic and frequently changing. Now we have a working relationship with the Taliban, Bangladesh was the closed security partner to India till 2023 and now its becoming increasingly Anti India.

Nepal and Sri lanka regimes keep getting hot and cold to India. We cannot keep a security policy which will keep changing every year.

关于国家安全政策，考虑到我们所处的地区，我们还不需要公开。我们不需要事事模仿美国。

我们所在的地区变化频繁。孟加拉国在2023年之前一直是印度的亲密安全伙伴，现在我们与塔利班建立了工作关系，孟加拉国现在变得越来越反印度。

尼泊尔和斯里兰卡政权对印度忽冷忽热。我们的安全政策不能一成不变，每年都要更新。

rachit26-95

Why doesn’t DRDO / GTRE / ADA have performance based incentives? Defence being such an integral part of a nation in this era, requires these agencies to not imitate a ’standard Govt Job’.

为什么印度国防研究发展组织、 GTRE / ADA没有基于绩效的激励？在这个时代，国防是一个国家不可或缺的一部分，这些机构不要模仿“政府的做风格”。

Cellpeg

Ajay makes fair points, hopefully, going forward, Indians will use the word 'Indigenous' in relations to military equipment more carefully.

希望印度人在讲述军事装备时谨慎使用“本土”这个词。

howlutos

The Chinese used to always ask why China's engines didn't work. Until China's manufacturing output equaled that of the US and the EU combined, they discovered that China can make anything, so the key is manufacturing capabilities and supply chains.

India's manufacturing output accounts for 3% of the world's total, which is only equivalent to China's level in 1990. It lags behind China by more than 30 years. India still has a long way to go.

中国人过去总是问为什么中国的发动机不管用。直到中国的制造业产出相当于美国和欧盟的总和，他们才发现中国可以制造任何东西，所以关键是制造能力和供应链。

印度的制造业产出占世界总量的3%，仅相当于中国1990年的水平。它落后中国30多年。印度还有很长的路要走。

handyman7147

You said it. It is for the Government and the military heads to decide what should be imported and what need not be imported. It's not the job of the media and journalists.

应该由政府和军方首脑来决定什么应该进口，什么不需要进口。这不是媒体和记者的工作。

gautamganguli1221

One more issue that needs to be addressed- the reluctance of the Private Sector to invest in R&D, and in taking responsibility  manufacture of fighter planes with ARDE/GTRE/HAL.

还有一个问题需要解决——私营部门不愿投资研发，也不愿与ARDE/GTRE/HAL一起承担战斗机制造的责任。

lilunchengsmiles

This individual lacks expertise. China significantly enhanced its WS-10B aircraft engines, replacing all Russian-made engines since 2019. China’s ability to develop sixth-generation aircraft stems from breakthroughs in its cutting-edge WS-15 engine technology. Chinese engines now possess comparable power to Russian engines but are more reliable. However, they still lag behind Western engines. Despite this, they are reliable enough to equip their entire J-10, J-11, J-15, J-16, and J-20 fighter fleets and export to Pakistan.

自2019年以来，中国大幅增强了WS-10B飞机发动机，取代了所有俄制发动机。中国发展第六代飞机的能力源于其尖端的WS-15发动机技术的突破。中国发动机现在拥有与俄罗斯发动机相当的动力，但更可靠。然而，它们仍然落后于西方的发动机。尽管如此，它们足够可靠，可以装备整个歼-10、歼-11、歼-15、歼-16和歼-20战斗机队，并出口到巴基斯坦。

reckoner-nash

People don't realise that india hasn't developed economically to become an advanced manufacturer of jet engines and fighter jets. The Indian economy in relation to our population needs to be at least close to 10 trillion dollars and that should be spread equitably not just to get concerned amongst 5% of the population. A massive support industry needs to develop in the MSME sector so that the parts and components can be manufactured on scale to support the larger manufacturer, our manufacturing has been stagnating around 16-17% from the last 30 years, which requires to be at 30-33%. The reason for that is because the banks are reluctant to give loans to the msme sector.

人们没有意识到，就目前印度这个经济水平，还不足以成为喷气发动机和战斗机的先进制造商。考虑到人口数量，印度的经济规模至少应该接近10万亿美元，而且应该公平分配，而不仅仅是关注5%的人口。中小微企业部门需要发展一个庞大的支持产业，这样零部件就可以大规模生产，以支持更大的制造商。过去30年，我们的制造业一直停滞在16-17%左右，这需要达到30-33%。目前银行不愿向中小企业提供贷款

saurabhdang7307

Very good podcast and it is kee the reality in mind. We need to build our indigenous capability but necessary equipment should be imported to maintain the power balance

我们需要建立本土能力，但必要的设备应该进口，以保持力量平衡

nrusimha11

Develo secure channels of collaboration with the top engineering schools on specific high technology components may be one way forward.  

在特定的高科技领域，与顶尖工程学院建立安全的合作渠道可能是前进的方向之一。

NCM-xy8ow

China ws10 and ws15 have surpassed anything Russia has. The pilot is stuck in 2015. And the ws10 has nothing to do with Russia. It took inspiration from CFM rather. And the ws15 has got nothing to do with anyone.

中国的ws10和ws15已经超过了俄罗斯。ws10与俄罗斯没有任何关系。它的灵感来自CFM。ws15和任何人都没有关系。

继续阅读：国防   发动机   光辉战机

此文由 三泰虎 编辑，未经允许不得转载！：首页 > 资讯 » 印度国防现代化的挑战：Kaveri发动机和光辉MK-1战机