Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) on 15-06-2015 has issued Tender seeking Expression of Interest (EOI) from reputed Indian private / public sector industries / organisations for manufacturing and assembly of 80 kN thrust class engine consisting about 20000 number of components and parts.
Tender document which idrw.org has gone though informs that GTRE is developing an aero gas turbine engines, with an objective of manufacturing and assembly of 80 kN thrust class engine prototypes (20 engines) over a period of 3-4 years.
The tender also clarifies that Expression of Interest (EOI) will only accepted from the ” reputed Indian private / public sector industries / organisations who have the expertise in this field”. Tender interestingly does not classify it has a Kaveri afterburning turbofan engine which was given quiet burial after it was delinked from LCA Project.
Development of 80 kN thrust class engine is an interesting development since Tejas MK-1/MK-2 require higher engines in the range of 85kN to 98Kn thrust class and India’s AMCA 5th gen fighter project requires 110kN thrust class engine. Speculation is ripe that the new engine might be used on Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) which India is planning to field by 2020.
HAL and NAL have taken the lead to build RTA with 70-90 seater aircraft on a public-private partnership (PPP) model. HAL and NAL have been searching for a suitable engine for India’s ambitious programme to build a civilian aircraft.
HAL estimates that such an engine will be required around 2017 time-frame and GTRE tender documents are keen to develop 20 80 kN thrust class engine in similar time frame. idrw.org also like to point out that HAL was actually in search of Proven engine technology from global vendors which had responded to its RFI (Request for Information ) issued few years back and were eager to partner with one of the established engine manufacturers.
GTRE is yet to clarify actual usage of the engine but only viable project which fits the bill is India’s RTA aircraft project, but it could be speculation till we get for information on actual usage of engine.
http://idrw.org/gtre-issues-tender-to-manufacture-20-80-kn-thrust-class-engines/#more-66900