Indian Navy signs ₹270-crore deal with Kirloskar Oil Engines for indigenous marine diesel engine

The Indian Navy on Wednesday signed a project sanction order with Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited for the design and development of a 6MW medium-speed marine diesel engine under the Make-I category.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan at South Block in New Delhi, the defence ministry said in a statement.

The project, with an indigenous content of over 50%, will be developed at a cost of ₹270 crore. The Union government will fund 70% of the expenditure.

The order also includes the development of a detailed design for a 3-10MW diesel engine, the ministry said.

Once developed, these engines will be deployed for main propulsion and power generation on ships of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, it added.

“Most of the diesel engines of higher capacity were being imported from foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) till date. This project will start the process in achieving self-reliance in marine engine development in the country,” an official readout said.

“It will further strengthen indigenous capabilities, save foreign exchange and reduce dependency on foreign OEMs. It will act as a catalyst for the development of defence industrial ecosystem in the country.”