DheyaTech's Rs 43 Crore Push for Indigenous Gas Turbines

Bengaluru-based DheyaTech has raised Rs 43 crore in a round led by Avaana Capital, with participation from Unimech Aerospace & Manufacturing, to scale up production of its indigenous micro gas turbines.

However, the larger manufacturing question extends beyond the investment itself- it's what the round signals about India's aerospace manufacturing ecosystem moving from lab-stage engine development to actual production readiness.

Founded in 2018, DheyaTech has spent nearly eight years building small gas turbine technology domestically.

According to the firm, the fresh capital will go towards:

• Expanding manufacturing capacity for its engine line
• Setting up a fully integrated testing facility for gas turbine engines
• Deepening engagement with domestic and global customers to speed up deployment

The company's engine portfolio spans 20 kgf to 400 kgf of thrust, built for advanced aerial platforms, distributed power generation and next-generation energy systems.

Flight trials are targeted for Q4 2026 - a milestone that, more than the funding itself marks the shift from prototype to product.

Why Precision Manufacturing Could Shape India's Turbine Ecosystem

Gas turbine engine development sits among the most demanding disciplines in aerospace engineering, spanning turbo machinery design, combustion, materials science, engine controls and precision manufacturing.

Few countries have developed indigenous capabilities across the entire technology stack, and India has historically relied on imported technologies in this space. DheyaTech’s strategic manufacturing partnership with Unimech Aerospace highlights the broader opportunity to build a stronger domestic supplier ecosystem.

Unimech supports precision manufacturing of gas turbine components and systems, the kind of complex, tightly-toleranced hardware that domestic suppliers have rarely had reason to build at scale.

On DheyaTech's own manufacturing setup:

• DheyaTech runs a full-stack engineering model, handling design, development, build and testing in-house
• It has developed a proprietary adaptive engine control unit (ECU), giving it indigenous capability in electronic engine control

What's still unproven is how far this localizes - how much of the supply chain, beyond the prime manufacturing partner, moves onshore versus remaining import-dependent.

Also Read: Optimizing Production Processes for Zero-Defect Auto Manufacturing

From Indigenous Engine Development to Commercial Manufacturing

Dheyatech’s next challenge is to convert its technology development capabilities into repeatable commercial manufacturing. Reports indicate confirmed orders from Indian and global OEMs, alongside plans for flight trials and an integrated testing facility.

The company is pursuing independent airworthiness certification through DRDO's Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) — reportedly the first private Indian company to do so for gas turbine engines.

The commercialization pathway will depend on more than increasing production capacity. DheyaTech will need to demonstrate that its engines can be manufactured repeatedly to the same specifications

Key priorities to ensure it include:

• Completing integrated engine testing and validation under representative operating conditions
• Securing airworthiness certification and addressing the requirements of the applicable regulatory authorities
• Establishing quality-assurance and traceability systems capable of supporting aerospace customers
• Building a dependable supply chain for critical components and materials

Micro Gas Turbines Could Open New Aerospace and Energy Opportunities

Beyond propulsion, DheyaTech's technology stretches into energy. Working with IISc Bengaluru, it has developed a hydrogen-based flexi-fuel combustor for a 60 kW turbo generator, alongside a hydrogen blower that has received ATEX safety certification for use in explosive atmospheres.

This dual application-aerospace propulsion and distributed power generation-is where manufacturing capacity matters most. Applications include:

• Advanced aerial platforms and defense-adjacent propulsion systems
• Distributed power generation for decentralized grids
• Hydrogen-based flexi-fuel systems for next-generation energy infrastructure

If DheyaTech and its manufacturing partners can build a repeatable production line, it could serve as a template for how India builds indigenous, strategically important hardware - rather than continuing to import it.