Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL) has been awarded a significant project by the Indian Navy under the “Make-I” initiative. The agreement, signed on April 2, 2025, involves the design and development of a 6MW Medium-Speed Marine Diesel Engine. The ceremony took place in the presence of Shri Sanjeev Kumar IAS, Secretary of Defence Production, and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. KOEL was represented by key executives including Mr. Vinod Menon, Head of Industrial Business, Mr. Sachin Kejriwal, CFO, Mr. Sanjay Mujumdar, Head of Marine and Defence Business, and Mr. Najeeb Rahman, Marine Segment Leader.
The contract will see the development of a prototype diesel engine with over 50% indigenous content at a total cost of Rs 270 crore, with 70% of the funding provided by the Government of India. KOEL will design and develop medium-speed engines ranging from 3 MW to 10 MW, which will be used for main propulsion and power generation on Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard vessels. Currently, most of these engines are imported, making this project a pivotal step towards achieving self-reliance in marine engine development as part of the Indian government’s vision of indigenisation and Aatmanirbharta in Defence.
Kirloskar Oil Engines is honored to be part of this critical initiative and sees this project as a testament to their commitment to the ‘Make in India’ movement. The design and development of the engines will be carried out in-house by KOEL’s R&D teams, showcasing the company’s engineering and technological capabilities.
Gauri Kirloskar, Managing Director of KOEL, expressed pride in the partnership, saying, “We are honored to be selected by the Indian Navy for this prestigious project and look forward to contributing to the nation’s defense capabilities. This is a momentous achievement for all of us at KOEL, and with our technical strength and R&D capabilities, we are confident in delivering a world-class product to the Indian Navy. We thank the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Navy for their continued support and trust.”
Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL), with over 75 years of experience, is a leading manufacturer of internal combustion engines, generator sets, and agricultural equipment. KOEL also produces high-performance engines for industries such as construction, railways, firefighting, and mining. The company specializes in both air-cooled and liquid-cooled engines for industrial applications, offering a wide range of power outputs from 3 kW to 10 MW. KOEL’s product portfolio includes engines that run on alternative fuels such as ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, natural gas, biogas, and hydrogen, along with dual-fuel and flexi-fuel solutions.
In addition to its strong presence in India, KOEL has an extensive international footprint, operating across over 60 countries with offices in Dubai, South Africa, Kenya, and the USA. The company is recognized for its engineering excellence, innovation, and commitment to delivering customer-focused solutions in the power and energy sectors. KOEL continues to set new standards in performance, sustainability, and energy efficiency.
