GE Aerospace, HAL review faster delivery of Tejas engines during HAL chairman’s US visit
New Delhi, January 13. GE Aerospace has held high-level discussions with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to accelerate the delivery of fighter jet engines for India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas programme, signalling a fresh push to support the Indian Air Force’s expanding fleet.
The talks took place during a visit by HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil earlier this month to GE Aerospace’s manufacturing facility in Lynn, Massachusetts, where the company produces the F404-IN20 engines that power the Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets. Sunil toured the production lines and met GE Aerospace teams involved in building the engines for India.
According to GE Aerospace, the two sides reviewed ongoing efforts to speed up engine deliveries for the Tejas Mk-1A programme, including the execution of the recently announced order for 113 additional F404-IN20 engines for the Indian Air Force.
“GE Aerospace is proud to power India’s indigenous fighter jets, and these orders demonstrate the confidence that HAL and the Indian Air Force have in the performance of the F404 engine,” the company said, noting the engine’s long track record of powering advanced fighter aircraft worldwide.
The engagement also highlighted the deep and long-standing partnership between HAL and GE Aerospace. The two companies have worked together for over four decades on key Indian defence aviation programmes, including the F404 and the more powerful F414 engines for the Tejas and the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), as well as the LM2500 marine gas turbines used on Indian Navy frigates and indigenous aircraft carriers.
The renewed focus on faster engine deliveries is expected to help India meet its production and induction targets for the Tejas Mk-1A, a key pillar of New Delhi’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
