Defence Deal
India seals deal to buy 113 Tejas engines from US
New Delhi/IBNS: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday signed a significant agreement with GE Aerospace to acquire 113 F404-GE-IN20 jet engines for its Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme—marking a positive turn in India-U.S. defence cooperation after months of tariff-related friction.
According to officials, engine deliveries under the deal are scheduled to start in 2027 and conclude by 2032.
HAL confirmed that the engines and accompanying support package will power the 97 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets being built under the latest phase of the LCA programme.
The announcement follows the Defence Ministry’s September contract worth Rs 62,370 crore with HAL for 97 Tejas Mk1A aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
These indigenously developed fighters are essential to replenishing the IAF’s dwindling combat fleet and replacing ageing jets, a critical step given China’s expanding military presence and continued support to Pakistan.
Production of the Tejas Mk1A has encountered delays due to sluggish engine supplies from GE.
Out of the 99 engines ordered in 2021, only four have been delivered so far, with GE citing post-pandemic supply chain disruptions as the main cause.
The Tejas is a single-engine, multi-role fighter designed for air defence, maritime patrol, and precision strike missions.
The Mk1A variant represents a major upgrade, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The Mk1A made its maiden flight on October 17 in Nashik, Maharashtra, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who also inaugurated HAL’s third production line for the aircraft.
The event came shortly after the retirement of two MiG-21 squadrons, leaving a gap that the Mk1A is expected to fill.
Till date, the IAF has inducted two squadrons from its initial order of 40 Tejas jets.
The 2021 order for 83 Mk1A fighters and the recent 97-aircraft deal bring the total planned deliveries to 180 by 2034—solidifying the Tejas programme as the backbone of India’s future air combat fleet.
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