Indian Startup Builds Rocket Engines to End Import Reliance

For decades, India has built rockets and defense systems while quietly importing a critical piece: the engines that make them fly. DheyaTech, founded by aerospace veterans in 2018, is closing that gap with indigenous propulsion systems designed and built entirely in India.

Founder Gurushankara K C spent years designing engines at Rolls-Royce and GE Aviation before returning home with a mission. Alongside co-founders Abhinav Alva and Chetan Kumar, he's building micro gas turbines, turbojet engines, and hydrogen-powered systems that India's defense and aerospace sectors can depend on without looking overseas.

The name DheyaTech comes from the Sanskrit word for mission or higher purpose. That mission has already produced working prototypes: 200N and 500N thrust-class micro turbojet engines and hydrogen compressor platforms now being tested by India's Defense Research and Development Organization.

This isn't just about patriotism. Propulsion systems are strategic assets that affect national security, supply chain stability, and innovation capacity. Every imported engine means dependence on foreign suppliers, longer timelines, and vulnerability during geopolitical tensions.

The company is also building hydrogen-based turbogenerators for clean energy applications. By combining defense propulsion with sustainable energy hardware, DheyaTech is positioning itself at the intersection of two urgent national needs.

Building deep-tech hardware is brutally difficult compared to software startups. Development cycles stretch for years, certification requirements are rigorous, and precision manufacturing demands enormous capital. DheyaTech has attracted Rs 13 crore in funding from iHub DivyaSampark and Unimech Aerospace, along with research partnerships with the Indian Institute of Science.

Why This Inspires

DheyaTech represents a new generation of Indian founders tackling problems that require patience, capital, and deep technical expertise. These aren't overnight success stories, but they build capabilities that countries depend on for generations. When engineers who could work anywhere in the world choose to solve their home country's hardest problems, they create more than products. They create possibilities.

If DheyaTech succeeds, India won't just reduce import bills. It will join the small club of nations that control their own propulsion destiny, from concept to combustion.