In a significant boost to India's self-reliance in defence, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and American aerospace giant General Electric (GE) have officially inked a major agreement for the supply of fighter jet engines. The deal, signed on Friday, November 8, 2024, paves the way for powering the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk 1A.
Multi-Million Dollar Engine Partnership
The cornerstone of this partnership is the supply of 113 F404-GE-IN20 engines, along with a comprehensive support package. This order is a direct component of executing the contract for 97 LCA Tejas Mk 1A aircraft that was finalized in September. The financial scale of this engine procurement is substantial, valued at over $1 billion.
HAL officially announced this strategic milestone through a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), confirming the agreement's finalization. This concludes several months of intense negotiations between HAL and GE concerning the procurement terms for these powerful engines.
Powering the IAF's Fleet Expansion
This engine deal is critical for the Indian Air Force's (IAF) modernization plans. In total, HAL is contracted to supply 180 LCA Mk 1A aircraft to the IAF. The journey began with an initial order of 83 aircraft, a massive ₹48,000-crore contract signed in 2021. The recent order for an additional 97 aircraft solidifies the Tejas program as a cornerstone of the IAF's future fleet.
However, the delivery timeline is a key focus area. HAL is yet to commence deliveries of the initial 83 LCA Mk 1As. The process is contingent on the completion of the aircraft's final certification, which includes critical tests like weapon integration and live firing. To date, HAL has constructed 10 aircraft and has received four F404 engines from GE.
Broader Collaboration and Future Prospects
The collaboration between HAL and GE extends beyond the current F404 engines. Both entities are also engaged in advanced discussions to finalize the joint production of the more powerful F414 engines. These engines are destined to power the next-generation LCA Mk2 jets for the IAF, indicating a long-term strategic partnership.
Highlighting the program's progress, the LCA Tejas Mk-1A undertook its first public sortie last month at the HAL facility in Nashik. This event was hailed as a key milestone in the aircraft's production journey, bringing it closer to operational service.
In a September interview, HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil praised the GE F404 engines, describing them as “wonderful” and “proven to be reliable.” He also emphasized the importance of continuous order flow to maintain engagement with global aerospace suppliers and prevent potential supply chain bottlenecks, underscoring the strategic importance of this new agreement.
