---
title: "Godrej Aerospace delivers first serial production Kaveri Dry Engine (D1) to DRDO, marking a massive milestone for India’s defense sector"
url: https://mediathepower.com/godrej-aerospace-delivers-first-serial-production-kaveri-dry-engine-d1-to-drdo-marking-a-massive-milestone-for-indias-defense-sector/
date: 2026-09-10
modified: 2026-09-10
lang: en
author: "Rajiv Singh"
description: "BENGALURU- In a monumental boost to India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Godrej Aerospace has officially handed over the first serial production unit of the indigenous Kaveri Derivative Engine (designated D1) to..."
categories:
  - "News"
image: https://mediathepower.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/kaw.jpg
word_count: 191
---

# Godrej Aerospace delivers first serial production Kaveri Dry Engine (D1) to DRDO, marking a massive milestone for India’s defense sector

BENGALURU- In a monumental boost to India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Godrej Aerospace has officially handed over the first serial production unit of the indigenous Kaveri Derivative Engine (designated D1) to the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a premier laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The delivery transitions the long-evolving Kaveri engine program from an experimental prototype phase into active, production-grade defense manufacturing. Designed specifically as a non-afterburning "dry" engine variant, the powerhouse generates 48–51 kN of thrust. It is slated to power India's highly anticipated Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) program and other autonomous defense platforms.

With the ongoing delays and steep price hikes in international supply chains, the successful handoff of the D1 engine offers DRDO a clear path toward complete technological ownership. The current 50 kN dry design lays a solid foundation, which GTRE engineers intend to scale into full afterburning variants capable of 75 kN to 90 kN of thrust for future combat fleets and it will power Ghatak UCAV's. The D-series production units will now enter extensive, final certification and endurance trials at GTRE to clear the engine for upcoming real-world flight deployments.