Manohar Parrikar confirms French help for revival of Indian Kaveri engine
BENGALORE: The indigenous Kaveri fighter engine project is being revived with French help, with offsets from the Rafale fighter deal likely to be used to fund it, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said, adding that India will requires a large quantity of engines in the future, including over 5,000 for helicopters itself.
Parrikar said that French firm Safran - which has developed the M88 engines for the Rafale - will be using technology from its engines that go on the Rafale to revive the Indian project. The minister has confirmed a story first reported by ET on July 4, 2016 about the Kaveri revival plan.
As reported by ET, leading manufacturer Safran has finalised a $2 million consultancy agreement to revive the project for combat planes and unmanned aircraft. French experts have studied Kaveri gas turbine project -- which was stalled in 2014 -- and have draw a joint development plan.
France has offered a one billion euro investment to revive the combat jet engine project, proposing a joint development plan to use offsets credits that will come from the Rafale fighter jet deal.
The Rafale deal has a offset obligation of 50 per cent of the contract cost, which translating into over 3 billion euros. Several rounds of discussions have already taken place between French company Safran and Indian developers since January.
The Kaveri engine project was more of less abandoned for aviation use in 2014 due to power shortcomings. While the consultancy agreement will lead to a detailed plan, initial assessments by French experts has brought out that 25-30 per cent more work is needed for it to get combat worthy.
Parrikar said that French firm Safran - which has developed the M88 engines for the Rafale - will be using technology from its engines that go on the Rafale to revive the Indian project. The minister has confirmed a story first reported by ET on July 4, 2016 about the Kaveri revival plan.
As reported by ET, leading manufacturer Safran has finalised a $2 million consultancy agreement to revive the project for combat planes and unmanned aircraft. French experts have studied Kaveri gas turbine project -- which was stalled in 2014 -- and have draw a joint development plan.
France has offered a one billion euro investment to revive the combat jet engine project, proposing a joint development plan to use offsets credits that will come from the Rafale fighter jet deal.
The Rafale deal has a offset obligation of 50 per cent of the contract cost, which translating into over 3 billion euros. Several rounds of discussions have already taken place between French company Safran and Indian developers since January.
The Kaveri engine project was more of less abandoned for aviation use in 2014 due to power shortcomings. While the consultancy agreement will lead to a detailed plan, initial assessments by French experts has brought out that 25-30 per cent more work is needed for it to get combat worthy.
