HAL gets three more GE F404 engines, boosting Tejas Mk1A production
New Delhi, September 3. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received three additional F404-IN20 fighter engines from US aerospace major GE Aerospace, providing a fresh boost to the production of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, which has faced delays partly due to constraints in engine supplies.
GE Aerospace said on September 3 that the three engines were shipped to HAL in August. The latest consignment is expected to help the state-owned aerospace major accelerate production as it works to meet delivery commitments to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Engine availability has emerged as one of the key bottlenecks in the Tejas Mk1A programme. While HAL has maintained that its production facilities are ready to manufacture the aircraft at a faster pace, the completion and delivery of fighters have remained dependent on the timely supply of F404-IN20 engines from GE.
The US company is contracted to supply 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL under an agreement valued at around ₹5,375 crore (around $569 million), signed in 2021 for the Tejas Mk1A programme.
The IAF has placed orders for 180 Tejas Mk1A fighters, making a steady engine supply critical to maintaining the production schedule and meeting the aircraft’s delivery timelines.
Former HAL chairman DK Sunil had said in April that GE had assured the company of supplying 20 F404 engines during the second half of 2026, covering the period from June to December. At the time, he said five engines had already been received and a sixth was ready for shipment. He had described the commitment of 20 engines as a conservative estimate, indicating that GE could potentially deliver more.
The three engines shipped in August form part of this expected supply.
F404-IN20 critical to Tejas Mk1A
The F404-IN20 is the powerplant selected for the single-engine Tejas fighter and has been adapted to meet the specific requirements of the Indian aircraft.
The engine incorporates a higher-flow fan, single-crystal turbine blades and other specialised components. GE Aerospace describes the F404-IN20 as the highest-thrust variant in the F404 family.
The F404 family has a long operational record and powers thousands of military aircraft globally. GE has also highlighted the engine’s performance during the Tejas development programme, including the fighter’s maiden flight in 2008, when the aircraft reached Mach 1.1.
Production resumed after five-year gap
The latest deliveries also mark a significant phase in GE’s revival of the F404-IN20 production line after a five-year hiatus.
GE had earlier supplied 65 F404-IN20 engines to HAL, completing its initial commitment in 2016. Production was subsequently discontinued as there were no further orders at the time.
The situation changed in 2021 when HAL placed a fresh order for 99 engines for the Tejas Mk1A. GE then restarted production and reactivated suppliers across its global supply chain to meet the new requirement.
The two companies also worked over several years to tailor the engine to the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force and the Tejas platform.
The episode has underscored the importance of maintaining a dependable global supply chain for critical components as India seeks to scale up indigenous fighter production.
Engine delays affect aircraft deliveries
The availability of F404 engines has remained a recurring challenge for the Tejas Mk1A programme. Although HAL has repeatedly indicated that its manufacturing infrastructure is capable of supporting higher production rates, the pace of aircraft completion and delivery is partly determined by the arrival of engines from GE.
The delays have also had contractual implications for the US engine manufacturer.
HAL officials have previously confirmed that the contract contains provisions for liquidated damages in the event of delays in F404 engine deliveries. Any penalties imposed on GE are therefore being levied under the terms agreed in the existing contract.
The latest shipment of three engines is consequently important not only for replenishing HAL’s engine inventory but also for easing one of the major constraints on the Tejas Mk1A production pipeline. With the IAF’s order standing at 180 aircraft, the ability of GE to maintain a predictable delivery schedule will remain critical to HAL’s efforts to accelerate production and bring the indigenous fighter into service in larger numbers.
