US to setup high-altitude engine test facility and a trisonic wind tunnel for DRDO in India
As per the "letter of offer and acceptance" inked between the Indian and US governments on Tuesday, Globemaster-manufacturer Boeing will also establish a high-altitude engine test facility as well as a trisonic wind tunnel facility at DRDO for testing and R&D of aeroengines and aerodynamic bodies.
India, US ink $4.1bn deal for C-17 jets - The Times of India
A key advantage of the offsets under this programme is assistance by Boeing to set up an approximately $500 million engine-testing wind tunnel for jet engines with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The air chief said that this project should go a long way in helping Indian scientists develop jet engines.
The indigenous capability in India for aircraft engines at the moment is vastly inadequate as it is difficult to master the engine core technology. Despite the acquisition of a very large number of aircraft from the Soviet Union/Russia and France, nobody has shared this expertise despite various collaborative programmes.
Even to test the Kaveri engine for the light combat aircraft (LCA) for instance, facilities in Russia have recently been used.
India to buy more than 16 C-17 airlifters - Economic Times