The gas turbine technology, be it for aero propulsions (turbo prop, turbo fan, turbo jet) or marine propulsions application, is not a rocket science...in fact, it's more than a rocket science.We need to start some where right ??? Perjalanan 1000 km dimulai dari langkah pertama
We can see how many countries are more and more capable in rocket propulsion for their space program or missile program. We can name it : US, UK, French, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Iran, and so on. The list become more and more in the near future.
But for gas turbine manufacturer, especially for aero propulsion, the list only left a few countries. The amount tends to stagnant for decades. Besides the traditional aero GT propulsion maker ( US, UK, French, Russia ), Perhaps only China has successfully applied its own indigenous jet engine to their indigenous fighter jet. India still struggle for it.
The nature of this engine continuously operating at high RPM ( could reach 33,000 RPM or more) to compressed air up to 200 psi or more and burned it in very high temperature ( above 1200 C ) then delivers tens-of-thousands pound of thrust. Not to mentioned it'll be brought turning upside down in high G-force maneuvers by the fighter jet.
It is not just designed with aerodynamically and thermodynamically optimized, but also built in highly precision. Those whom ever has disassembled and reassembled the gas turbine will know how tight are the fit and clearance check at hundreds of sections. Some expert says its precision is equal to swiss-made watches precision, though the size scale of GT is thousands of time from swiss watches.
We also need to have a very reliable control system, especially in controlling the combustion process. Not to mentioned the rotor dynamical behaviour. Even a relatively small vibration increase can eventually damage this high speed engine. It is consider as one of the highest technological achievement of human kind. If a country can master it, it is a prove of their technological advancement and become a distinguished country among others.
I am not a design engineer of gas turbine, only a field service engineer doing the field maintenance, repair, condition monitoring , and troubleshoting and have been in this job for more than 20 years covering industrial gas turbines and aero-derivative gas turbines. Most of the years served with OEM ( Siemens, Alstom, Solar Turbines) and some years served with the user (oil & gas company) and had experienced in early of my career for GT overhaul in gas turbine propulsion MRO facility (Universal Maintenance Center of IPTN, now PT. Nusantara Turbines & Propulsions).
IMHO, from my personal point of view, we can summarized what are the technology challenges in gas turbine design : Material technology and cooling system technology for turbines disks, nozzles, and blades.
Because all aerodynamic and thermodynamic aspects has been highly optimized with state of the art software running in super-computer. The air density can be compressed more and burning in higher temperature , but what kind of materials and how is the effective cooling design work to maintain that materials can withstand the high temperature combustion in a long service periods. These are some limitations to have a more efficient gas turbines. Even the manufacturing techniques of a single blade gas turbine also required high tech metallurgical method. Nowadays 3D printing technology already been introduced, but don't know yet if it can substitute the way of making gas turbine components more reliable or not.
What I want to pinpoint is : we need to start the works in our own gas turbine technology, but it should be by complete engineering disciplines team ( aero-thermodynamical engineering, rotor dynamics engineering, materials technology engineering, combustion engineering, control system engineering, etc).
Start to invest in human capital. Indonesia has ITB whom provide propulsion engineering study program. Perhaps the combination of its mechanical engineering and aeronautical engineering department. Any ITB alumni please correct me if i am wrong.
We also need to send some of the best brain to study abroad in top universities. US, French, Russia, UK are some of the country destination for this study. As an example, UK has Cranfield University-School of Aeronautical and Thermal Process which provide complete set of program study for gas turbines and propulsions technology design. I believe in other countries that I aforementioned has similar program offered.