Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd (KOEL) is progressing as planned to deliver India’s first indigenously developed marine engine by April 2028, the company’s Chief Executive Officer Rahul Sahai said.
The project involves the development of a four-stroke, 6 MW V12 marine diesel engine under a defence contract. The agreement was awarded in April 2025, with the total project cost estimated at ₹270 crore. Around 70 per cent of the funding is being supported by the central government. The engine is being developed with more than 50 per cent indigenous content.
Sahai said the programme is being closely monitored at the Ministry of Defence level and remains aligned with the committed delivery schedule. A dedicated facility has been established in Nashik for manufacturing large marine engines as part of the initiative.
The company is developing the engine platform to support a broader range of marine propulsion systems between 3 MW and 10 MW. The prototype 6 MW engine is intended for deployment in Indian Navy vessels, subject to final approvals, and may also have applications in the commercial marine segment.
The design and core intellectual property of the engine are being developed domestically, with specialised components such as simulation tools, pistons and fuel systems sourced through industry partnerships. The company has emphasised that the intellectual property rights will remain within India, supporting the broader objective of strengthening domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.
The development of a locally built marine propulsion engine is considered a significant milestone in reducing reliance on imports and enhancing India’s self-reliance in strategic maritime technologies.
