NEW DELHI: Kirloskar Oil Engines, one of the flagship companies of India’s Kirloskar group, has said that the company is “on track” to deliver India’s first locally-made marine engine for the Indian Navy.A four-stroke, 6 MW V12 engine will be “delivered to the Navy by April 2028”as per contractually-mandated deadline, Kirloskar Oil Engines’ CEO Rahul Sahai recently told the media.A sanction order for the design and development of a 6 MW medium speed marine diesel engine was signed between the Navy and the Kirloskar last April under Make-I category of the procurement procedure. Prototype diesel engine with indigenous content of over 50% is being developed at a cost of Rs 270 crore with 70% funding from the govt.These engines are intended for main propulsion and power generation on Navy and Coast Guard vessels.The Navy has contracted the development of this engine in order to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in marine engine manufacturing. The engine development will reduce reliance on foreign original equipment manufacturers from countries like the US, UK, and Ukraine as the critical technology will be available in-house and save foreign exchange. The initiative strengthens indigenous capabilities, supports the “Make in India” initiative, and fosters a domestic defence industrial ecosystem.The development of the engine supports the conversion of older steam-based systems to modern, efficient diesel-based systems, as seen in the upgrade of the INS Beas. Developing indigenous engines will also allow better control over life cycle costs, maintenance, and supply chains for the Navy.