A new indigenous jet-engine project is gaining attention in Nalanda, Bihar, where aerospace engineer Subrat Shandilya has secured seed funding to advance the development and testing of a compact jet engine. The project is being supported under Bihar’s startup-funding framework, with assistance linked to development milestones.
The engine is reportedly designed for applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other aerospace platforms. Although the prototype has already undergone testing, transforming an experimental design into a reliable aviation-grade engine will require extensive validation under extreme temperatures and pressures, long-duration operation, precision manufacturing, safety requirements and certification.
The long-term plan includes establishing a jet-engine manufacturing facility near Rajgir if development progresses successfully. Such industrialisation could create opportunities in precision engineering, specialised materials, electronics and skilled aerospace employment across Bihar.
The project also highlights the strategic importance of indigenous propulsion technology. Jet engines remain among the most challenging aerospace systems to develop, and successful progress could contribute to India’s broader ambitions for aerospace self-reliance and affordable propulsion solutions.