Deepinder Goyal announced on LinkedIn that LAT is setting up a dedicated propulsion team in Bangalore to build gas turbine engines from scratch. This initiative aims to develop lightweight, efficient, and flight-ready engines under the “Made in India” banner.
A Fresh Approach to Engine Development
“India has tried building gas turbine engines before. And we’ve come close,” Goyal said in his post. “At LAT, we want to get past the finish line. So we’re putting together a propulsion research team in Bangalore, focused solely on building gas turbine engines from scratch. Lightweight. Efficient. Flight-ready. Made in India.”
He emphasized what makes this attempt different: “We’re giving engineers the freedom to think, build, break, and repeat. Our dedicated research centre — with labs for combustion, turbomachinery, thermal systems, and materials, will give engineers the space and freedom to iterate fast, and get to real outcomes at a speed which is unprecedented in the industry.”
Engineers to Lead the Mission
Goyal highlighted that the team would be led by engineers rather than business executives. “No waiting around for approvals from ‘business’ people. No chasing slides or meetings. Just hands-on problem solving, running bench tests, working with suppliers, building hardware from scratch — and pushing the limits of design and physics every day,” he wrote.
He added that while the project may be challenging, its success could transform India’s aerospace capabilities. “It won’t be easy. But if it works, it changes everything. A full engine stack, built locally. Powering STOL aircraft. UAVs. Remote connectivity. Self-reliance,” Goyal stated.
In his post, Goyal also invited engineers with relevant experience to join the team, saying, “If you’ve ever built turbines, rotors, control systems — or anything close — and want to be part of something that could one day, rewrite history, write to us at engines@lat.com.”