The Indian Navy has signed a Project Sanction Order with Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited for the design and development of a 6MW Medium Speed Marine Diesel Engine under the Make-I category. The agreement, valued at Rs 2.7 billion, was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.

With over 51 per cent indigenous content, the prototype engine will receive 71 per cent funding from the Government of India. The project also includes designing engines in the 3-10MW range for main propulsion and power generation in Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard ships.

India currently imports most high-capacity diesel engines from foreign OEMs. This initiative will reduce dependency, save foreign exchange, and boost indigenous defence manufacturing. It is aligned with the government’s Aatmanirbharta vision, strengthening India's defence industrial ecosystem and technology self-reliance.