Indian start-up achieves break-through in Aero Engine design with Digital Twin

This Indian DeepTech startup recognized by DPIIT “Startup India” program has recently achieved a breakthrough in the design of State-of-the-Art Aero-Engines for Cruise Missiles and Large UAVs. With a team of 35 engineers including Chief Engineers with Global OEM experience and expertise, PhDs and talented graduates from Global Universities including students from IITs, Paninian has embarked on this challenging journey of designing and developing state of the art Aero-Engines also known as Turbofan Engines to power our critical Defence needs.

For the first time ever in the Indian private sector Paninian has successfully demonstrated the design and validation of a 4.5 KN Turbojet Engine which is further being developed into a family of engines in the range of 3-12 KN thrust, along with AI augmented digital twin companions.

The other breakthrough is in terms of developing an Artificial Intelligence driven Digital Twin for performance modelling and prognostics of legacy engines for supporting Mission performance and life extension efforts of IAF aircrafts like Jaguar and Sukhoi. This Digital Twin platform which is required for cutting-edge Prognostics, Engine Health and Performance Monitoring has been conceived entirely from scratch in India by our engineers. Now India can carry out life extension of engines locally and accurately without resorting to foreign assistance.

Dr.Gouda, a former Outstanding Scientist and Group Director (Propulsion) and Dr.Vikas, a former Outstanding Scientist at DMRL which is part of DRDO, both currently serving as technology advisors for Paninian, brought out that this digital twin platform will be of great value to IAF and their application could also be extended to other defence platforms for Navy and Army.

Mr. Senthamil Selvan, Chief Engineer who heads the Engine Development Programme added that “Paninian intends to develop and manufacture these complete family of engines ranging between 3-12 KN within India using state of the art 3D Printing technology”. This engine family design of Paninian can be modularised and reconfigured as different variants to develop power requirements of future cruise missiles and larger UAVs for India as well as for exports to friendly markets.

The founder Raghu Adla also said that he’s “immensely grateful to many senior Industry leaders from Lockheed Martin, GE, Rolls Royce including senior leaders from DRDO, IAF, IIT and IISc research faculty who have been supporting this journey.” He also emphasised on the need for the public sector to support such start up efforts by providing grants, access to laboratories. “With design/development centres in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune, I feel Paninian is quite well poised to attract the very best of the global Indian talent in Engineering and Manufacturing to join in this exciting journey”, he added.

This innovation could go a long way in the “Make in India” program to make the country “Atma Nirbhar” in the strategic field of Aero Engines. “I am glad to dedicate this innovation to the country on the eve of “Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav”, Mr.Raghu Adla added.

Paninian is also participating in the upcoming Wargame conducted by Insighteon Consulting, a pioneer consulting firm in Aerospace and Defence, to identify barriers in the development of indigenous aero engines eco systems in India, being held in August 2022.

Discover the stories of your interest

Disclaimer: Content Produced by Heylin Spark