The CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) unveiled three indigenous micro and small gas turbine engines at the SSB Auditorium, CSIR Headquarters, New Delhi, on 25 August 2026. The engines were named NJ-05, NJ-50 and NJ-100, with thrust ratings of 5 kg, 50 kg and 100 kg respectively.
Micro and Small Gas Turbine Engines
Gas turbine engines are internal combustion engines that produce thrust or shaft power by compressing air, mixing it with fuel, and expanding the hot gases through a turbine. Micro and small gas turbine engines are compact propulsion systems used in unmanned platforms, target drones, cruise-type systems and other lightweight aerospace applications.
Defence Applications of Compact Propulsion Systems
The newly unveiled engines are designed for defence applications, including tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, drone interceptors and compact missile systems. Such engines are used where low weight, high rotational speed and compact dimensions are required for airborne platforms.
Institutional Roles in the Development Programme
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, attended the event as Chief Guest. Dr. Abhay A. Pashilkar, Director of CSIR-NAL, described the laboratory as a multi-stage integrator and called for manufacturing support from Indian aerospace startups and industry players. Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of DSIR, linked the development of these subsystems with the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework.
Important Facts for Exams
- CSIR-NAL is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
- Gas turbine engines operate on the Brayton cycle, which is a thermodynamic cycle used in jet propulsion and power generation.
- High-RPM turbomachinery is a key engineering area in compact turbine engine design.
- High-temperature combustion systems are essential for achieving efficient thrust in small turbine engines.
Technology Progression and Test Basis
The NJ-100 was developed using data from earlier flight tests of the scaled-down NJ-5 technology demonstrator. The progression from NJ-05 to NJ-100 shows a thrust range from 5 kg to 100 kg in the same indigenous engine family.
