Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal has set his sights on a challenge that has eluded India’s scientific establishment for decades: designing and manufacturing a jet engine, entirely in India, for the first time. With LAT Aerospace, the Bengaluru-based startup he co-founded with Surobhi Das, Goyal is assembling a trailblazing propulsion research team with a bold, clear mandate; build a cutting-edge gas turbine engine from scratch and move Indian aviation into a new era of self-reliance.
LAT Aerospace, nestled in Bengaluru’s thriving tech ecosystem, aims to achieve what previous Indian efforts like the ambitious but incomplete Kaveri project could not: mass-producible engines that power everything from regional aircraft to UAVs. Rather than targeting large, fighter jet-style engines, LAT is focused on designing lightweight, efficient, and flight-ready turbines for 24-seater short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft, cargo drones, and regional connectivity solutions. Goyal’s vision is crystal clear: to make regional air travel in India as effortless as bus or rail journeys.
In stark contrast to India’s traditionally bureaucratic R&D institutions, LAT Aerospace is structured for maximum agility and innovation:
Engineer-led R&D: The propulsion team is empowered to make decisions, experiment, and iterate quickly; no waiting for “business” approvals or endless meetings.
State-of-the-art labs: Dedicated facilities for combustion, turbomachinery, materials science, and thermal systems bring rapid prototyping and testing under one roof.
No Compromises: Using a clean-sheet design philosophy, the company plans to avoid off-the-shelf shortcuts, building every critical engine system locally.
As Goyal stated, “No chasing slides or meetings just hands-on problem solving, running bench tests, working with suppliers, building hardware from scratch, and pushing the limits of design and physics every day”.
Developing indigenous jet engine technology is crucial for India’s strategic self-reliance. The country remains deeply dependent on imported engines for commercial and military aviation, a vulnerability laid bare by supply chain shocks and shifting geopolitics. By bringing this high-tech skillset in-house, LAT Aerospace could not only strengthen India’s national security but also drastically boost jobs, export prospects, and its place on the global innovation map.
Reflecting India’s thriving startup culture, Goyal has issued an open invitation to engineers with experience in turbines, rotors, control systems, and propulsion to join the LAT mission. Building a jet engine is one of engineering’s ultimate challenges but with $50 million in seed funding, including $20 million of Goyal’s personal investment; LAT Aerospace is giving India’s brightest talent a platform to help achieve what has long been a national aspiration.