India advances indigenous jet engines for missiles, drones and new detonation technology

India is moving forward on two fronts of propulsion technology. The DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment confirmed the creation of a 350 kg class expendable turbo-jet engine, a powerplant commonly used in cruise missiles and now being fitted to jet-powered loitering munitions such as the Agniveg, of which the army has ordered 106 units. These loitering weapons can reach targets far behind enemy lines with a circular error probable under five metres, offering speed advantages over slower Iranian and Russian drones.

Meanwhile, private company D-Propulse achieved a breakthrough by testing a rotating detonation engine that delivers more than 5 kN of thrust, a scale previously limited to sub-kilonewton rigs worldwide. The detonation cycle eliminates complex turbine blades, cutting manufacturing costs and improving fuel efficiency by 15-25 %, which could translate into longer-range or faster missiles. The demonstration reached Technology Readiness Level 5, but it was conducted on a static rig, so challenges such as thermal stress, acoustic loads and integration with flight systems remain. Continued material research, endurance testing and system-level integration will be required to move the technology from the lab to operational weapons, potentially reducing India's reliance on foreign propulsion suppliers.