In a landmark development for participation of private companies in India’s defence and aerospace sector, Hyderabad-based Azad Engineering Limited on Wednesday delivered its first fully indigenous expendable turbojet engine to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Ministry of Defence. The company informed the stock exchanges of the milestone, describing it as a defining moment that advances the nation’s journey towards self-reliance in propulsion systems.
The company said, “This achievement highlights Azad’s expertise in precision manufacturing, advanced engineering, and complex Aero-engine systems while reinforcing its commitment to supporting India’s indigenous Defence and Aerospace programs. The successful delivery stands as a testament to Azad’s capability to manufacture world-class engine delivery for development trials that contribute to the Nation’s strategic technological advancement.”
The engine, manufactured and assembled entirely by Azad after precision fabrication of its critical components, has been handed over for development trials. Officially referred to as the Advanced Turbo Engine or Advanced Turbo Gas Generator (ATGG), it is a single-spool turbojet featuring a four-stage axial-flow compressor, an annular combustor, a single-stage axial-flow uncooled turbine and a fixed exit-area nozzle. The uncooled turbine and relatively simple architecture make the design particularly suited to expendable or medium-endurance applications where cost-effectiveness, compactness and reliability are paramount.
Azad secured the long-term contract from the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), the premier DRDO laboratory based in Bengaluru, in May 2024. Under the agreement, the company was designated GTRE’s sole industry partner and production agency responsible for end-to-end manufacturing, assembly, integration and delivery of the complete engine. The first batch of fully integrated units was scheduled for early 2026, Wednesday’s delivery marks the successful realisation of that timeline.
The propulsion system is intended for a range of defence applications, including cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones and other platforms that require turbojet power.
The achievement marks Azad’s evolution from a specialist manufacturer of high-precision turbine and aero-engine components into a systems-level supplier capable of delivering complete propulsion units. The company, which operates manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad, has established itself as a trusted global supplier of highly engineered, complex and mission- and life-critical components for the aerospace, defence, energy and oil and gas sectors. The firm specialises in manufacturing parts that demand extreme precision, often measured in microns, and operates under a zero-defect culture that has enabled it to meet the stringent qualification standards of leading original equipment manufacturers worldwide.
Its product portfolio includes compressor rotor and stator blades for heavy-duty gas turbines, high-pressure compressor blades for aero-engines, airfoils, actuators, hydraulic systems, auxiliary power unit components and a range of forged and machined turbine parts. These components are supplied to major global OEMs such as Rolls-Royce, General Electric (including GE Aerospace and GE Vernova), Honeywell, Eaton Aerospace, Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and MAN Energy Solutions, among others. Azad’s parts support critical platforms including commercial aircraft of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 and A350 families as well as business jets such as the Gulfstream G550.
Its entry into full engine production strengthens India’s domestic industrial base for strategic technologies that have historically depended on foreign sources. With the first unit now with DRDO for developmental testing, Azad is expected to ramp up deliveries of subsequent engines in the coming months, further consolidating India’s growing competence in aero-engine manufacturing.
