CSIR-NAL Unveils Three Indigenous Micro and Small Gas Turbine Engines

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) unveiled three indigenously developed micro and small gas turbine engines in New Delhi on Aug. 25. The three engines are NJ-05, with a thrust of 5 kg; NJ-50, with a thrust of 50 kg; and NJ-100, with a thrust of 100 kg.

India's Ministry of Science and Technology said the engines were developed to address requirements for indigenous defence technologies, with the compact propulsion systems envisaged for applications such as tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drone interceptors and compact missile systems.

Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, said the indigenous development of such specialised, critical subsystems marks an important milestone in advancing the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in aerospace engineering. Dr. Abhay A. Pashilkar, director of CSIR-NAL, highlighted the laboratory's evolving role as a multi-stage integrator for the country's growing drone ecosystem, and said Indian industry, including the expanding aerospace start-up ecosystem, has the potential to manufacture these engines at scale to meet the requirements of India's defence sector.