Catapulting India into the elite club of marine gas turbine producers, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has modified the Kaveri engine, meant for powering the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) enable it propel naval ships.

With this, India joins an exclusive club that includes the US, Russia, Britain and the Ukraine.

'The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE at) Bangalore has come up with a modified marine version, as a spin off during research, to develop shaft power for propelling Indian naval ships,' a defence ministry statement said Thursday.

The modified engine is made by using the core of the Kaveri engine.

'The scientists added the core of Kaveri engine to a low pressure compressor and turbine as a gas generator to design a free power turbine for maritime applications,' the statement said.

The engine has been transported to the Naval Dockyard at Visakhapatnam for testing.

'The engine has the potential of propelling the Rajput class of destroyers of the Indian Navy,' the statement added.

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