India’s first indigenous 5 kN Rotating Detonation Engine validated at TRL-5; D-Propulse targets flight-ready system by December 2027
The TRL-5 milestone positions the indigenous engine for future applications in cruise missiles, target drones and high-speed UAVs
New Delhi, July 28, 2026. Defence propulsion startup D-Propulse has successfully demonstrated India’s first indigenous 5 kN air-breathing Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) integrated with an aerospike nozzle, marking a significant milestone in the country’s advanced propulsion capabilities. Conducted at a DRDO government test facility, the hot-fire demonstration achieved stable 5 kN thrust, validating the technology at Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-5, which signifies validation in a relevant operational environment.
Incubated at IIT Madras, the company said the demonstration marks the transition from laboratory-scale validation to an integrated prototype and is targeting a flight-ready engine by December 2027.
The milestone comes amid growing global interest in propulsion technologies that improve speed, efficiency and manufacturing scalability for future defence platforms. Unlike conventional jet engines, Rotating Detonation Engines use pressure-gain combustion, improving thermodynamic efficiency while eliminating moving parts inside the combustor, resulting in a simpler engine architecture.
According to D-Propulse, the technology offers 15–25% higher thermodynamic efficiency than conventional air-breathing propulsion systems and can be manufactured through precision machining rather than complex turbine assemblies, reducing production costs and lead times.
The campaign also demonstrated sustained multi-second pressure-gain combustion, validating continuous engine operation under test conditions and advancing the technology towards flight qualification.
Saurav Jha, Founder, D-Propulse, said, “This is the first successful demonstration of an indigenous Rotating Detonation Engine at this thrust class in India. Achieving TRL-5 validates the core engine architecture in a relevant operational environment. Our next milestone is to make the engine flight-ready by December 2027.”
Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Former DRDO Chief and Ex-Member NITI Aayog, who is also the Chairman of D-Propulse, said, “The successful demonstration is an encouraging milestone in advancing India’s indigenous capabilities in next-generation air-breathing propulsion.”
Unlike a laboratory demonstrator, the prototype has been developed as the proof motor of a flight-capable design. D-Propulse is developing the technology for future defence applications, including cruise missiles, target drones and high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The successful TRL-5 validation marks an important step in strengthening India’s indigenous propulsion ecosystem and expanding domestic capabilities in next-generation air-breathing propulsion.
