CSIR-NAL Unveils Three Indigenous Micro and Small Gas Turbine Engines for UAVs and Missiles

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) unveiled three indigenous micro and small gas turbine engines — NJ-05, NJ-50 and NJ-100 — at CSIR Headquarters, New Delhi in August 2026. Developed for defence unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missile systems, they deliver thrust of 5 kg, 50 kg and 100 kg respectively. The engines run on the Brayton cycle, in which air is compressed, mixed with fuel, combusted and expanded through a turbine to produce thrust. The NJ-100 builds on data from the NJ-05 demonstrator, showing progressive scaling within one engine family, and uses high-RPM turbomachinery and advanced combustion suited to lightweight, high-speed aerial platforms.