GE to Deliver First of 99 F404 Engines for Tejas MK-1A by March-End

In a significant development amid ongoing India-US trade tariff concerns, US aerospace giant General Electric (GE) is set to deliver the first of 99 F404 engines for India’s Tejas MK-1A fighter jets by the end of this month. The delivery, originally scheduled under a 2021 contract worth USD 716 million, has been delayed by two years, causing concern within the Indian Air Force (IAF).

According to officials familiar with the matter, the first of the contracted engines is already undergoing testing and will be handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by March-end. As per the contract terms, 12 engines are expected to be delivered in 2025, followed by 20 engines annually until the entire order is fulfilled.

Parallelly, HAL is collaborating with GE to manufacture the more powerful GE-414 engine in India under a technology transfer agreement outlined in the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) between India and the US. This engine will power the indigenously developed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) being designed by DRDO.

The delay in the supply of 83 LCA MK-1A aircraft by HAL has been a growing concern, with even the IAF Chief expressing frustration over the timeline. In response, the Defence Ministry, led by Defence Secretary R.K. Singh, has formed a committee to develop a business model for India’s proposed fifth-generation fighter program. This committee will focus on involving private sector participation in aircraft manufacturing, ensuring India is not solely reliant on HAL for its fighter jet production.

Meanwhile, as India explores its options for a fifth-generation combat aircraft, the US has offered its proven F-35 fighter jet, while France has proposed a plan to manufacture Rafale fighters along with the M-88 engine in India under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. The coming months will be crucial in determining India’s future fighter jet roadmap.