Military aircraft engine must be quickly developed: IAF chief N A K Browne

(The Economic Times) :   "You may have to steal, beg or borrow but you have to do it," IAF chief N A K Browne has stated to drive home the urgency for developing a military aircraft engine to strengthen defence capabilities.

The DRDO has been entrusted with the task of developing a fighter aircraft engine under the Kaveri programme but not much success has been achieved in this direction for the last over 25 years.

"This (military aircraft engine) is an area where we need to focus... you may have to steal, beg or borrow but you have to do it. This is one of the core technologies required by the nation," Air Chief Marshal Browne emphasised.

He was addressing an aerospace seminar at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) while talking about the set of core technologies required by the IAF.

The engine was recently put for trials on a Russian Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft and it will be put through further trials before it is ready for being equipped on any military aircraft.

The Kaveri was to be deployed on the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) but the project has not been successful.

Browne said another key technology required by the IAF was the latest and most advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array ( AESA) radar.

He said the latest radar should be developed indigenously as it gives a wider coverage range to the aircraft and can be used for intelligence gathering and provide information to local commanders at a faster pace.

Browne said IAF's traditional responsibilities have grown from just guarding the skies over the mainland to protecting countries areas of interest across the globe.