'Railways keen on using DRDO-developed engines'
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The Indian Railways has shown keen interest in the Kaveri engine, which is being developed for fighter aircraft, to power its trains, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has told a Parliamentary Committee.
"A request has come from the Indian Railways to know that whether Kaveri engines can be used for powering locomotives," DRDO told the Standing Committee on Defence.
In its report tabled in Parliament last week, the Committee said the DRDO has plans of producing Kaveri engine in large number in collaboration with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
DRDO officials told PTI that the Railways were showing keen interest in the programme as gas-turbine engines were the best and most fuel efficient.
"Though the engine is being developed for fighter aircraft, it can also be used on other platforms such as ships and heavy vehicles," they said.
Kaveri engine is being developed for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and for the future ventures of the DRDO in the field of aeronautics at its Bengaluru-based lab Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GRTE).
The engine recently successfully completed its first test-bed flight test in Russia and has completed other stages of development, including component testing, safety tests, ground based and endurance tests.
The engine has been put through a series of more such tests both in Russia and GTRE facility to prove its reliability, airworthiness and safety.
In the last two decades, DRDO has has spent close to USD 455 million on development of the Kaveri engine.
The indigenous fighter aircraft engine programme was first started in 1986 but suffered delays and cost over-runs due to the technology denial regimes in the 90s.
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