New Delhi, May 5 -- A major dampener on India's enthusiastic claims of Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) has been the persistent absence of domestically designed and manufactured "prime movers" - the engines that power major military platforms. Whether installed on Indian built fighters, destroyers, submarines or tanks, none of these critical power plants - gas turbines, diesel engines or electric motors - are fully indigenous. A long awaited breakthrough has been the DRDO's recent development, in collaboration with Bharat Earthmovers Ltd, of a 1,500 horsepower diesel engine. While this may pave the way for India's future tanks and armoured vehicles to be powered by an indigenous engine, the failure to develop families of aviation and marine ga...