CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) unveiled three indigenous Micro and Small Gas Turbine Engines on August 25, 2026, at the SSB Auditorium in New Delhi. The propulsion systems include the NJ-05 with 5 kg thrust, NJ-50 with 50 kg thrust, and NJ-100 with 100 kg thrust capacity. These compact engines were developed to address critical requirements in indigenous defense technologies and are specifically designed for applications in tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drone interceptors, and compact missile systems.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by senior leadership from India's defense and scientific communities, with Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VM, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), serving as the Chief Guest. Dr Abhay A. Pashilkar, Director of CSIR-NAL, emphasized the laboratory's evolving role as a multi-stage integrator for India's growing drone ecosystem and highlighted that Indian industry, including aerospace startups, has the potential to manufacture these advanced engines at scale to meet defense sector requirements.
A technical presentation by the CSIR-NAL scientific team led by Shri R. Prathapanayaka detailed the advances in high-RPM turbomachinery and high-temperature combustion technologies that enabled the development of these indigenous propulsion systems. Dr N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of DSIR, commended the collaborative efforts and stated that indigenous development of such specialized subsystems marks an important milestone in advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat in aerospace engineering.
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh emphasized the strategic importance of developing advanced gas turbine engine technologies within the country, noting that indigenous capabilities in such critical technologies would strengthen national security and enhance the technological self-reliance of the Armed Forces. The successful development represents a significant step toward building an indigenous ecosystem for the design, development, and manufacture of miniaturized gas turbine propulsion systems, expected to contribute substantially to India's growing UAV, drone, and defense aerospace ecosystem.