I don't doubt for a moment that they aspire to and would love to get there. I just don't believe that they are there - especially given that this is the first jet engine that they're designing and let's say they are still 'designing' the end product; as such their goals would have been much more sanguine than anything you're getting excited about. Variable cycle engine involves dynamically changing the engine 'trim' for various speed/thrust operations to optimize fuel consumption at every level!! Right now they haven't even hit the high thrust mark!! I like your trust in them; but I've followed DRDO's work and their claims for far too long to just believe that just because 30 years ago they put in some words in their paper about futuristic concepts, they actually went on to achieve it when the basic product hasn't been achieved yet. My bet is that when they started designing and developing variable cycles was the last thing on their head.
If they're even still thinking about it, they would be pom-pom'ing about it all the time. Have you heard recently from GTRE that they've made any strides in that direction?
In the last three years of UPA govt GTRE was denied funding even to run their existing engines. So I wonder what GTRE guys will "pom-pom" about??? Certainly you dont expect them to sell their grand father's property to fund kaveri development.
UPA also freezed DRDO funding. GTRE head was arrested in some strange mysterious "massage parlour" case?!?!? Remember the infamous Nambi Narayan arrest in "fake " ISRO spy ring case??
ANd GTRE was literally left to limp around by UPA
What is needed in kaveri is the finishing phase. Design dry thrust is achieved. Thast why french are willing to make it operational in 18 months.
If the engine is faulty in design & struggling , it will take years.
Also the IAF gentlemen simply scrapped SNEMA-GTRE collaboration which was proposed in 2007 for kaveri by saying that GTRE wont learn anything from the effort??? Seeing the Agusta westland probe I dont have any doubt about the motivation of IAF panel led by the infamous IAF gent Matheswaran to kill GTTRE Snecma proposed venture.
Things are falling into place for Tejas & Kaveri only after the new govt came to power.
French are not doing it for charity, They too will learn valuable insights in to variable cycle 90 Kn engine that is sorely needed for rafale engine upgrade. A dedicated engine development will take at least 20 years.
What is needed is the french expertise in finishing tech & certification.
GTRE doesn't need SCB tech for kaveri as its low bypass design has lower TET, which can be achieved with non SCB blades,
blade throwing was the result of frequency vibration of third order, To identify this GTRE doesnt have test rigs.
Finally it was identified in germany & rectified.
Now the prime french help is increasing the MTBO of kaveri & flight worthy certification.Not their non existent expertise with "trim levels" of variable cycle engines. They dont have it.
Only F-22 flies with variable cycle engines.