In a key boost to India’s indigenous fighter jet programme, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received the second GE-404 engine from the United States for integration into the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A, defence officials confirmed on Monday.
The delivery comes after a delay of over a year due to supply chain disruptions faced by the American engine manufacturer, GE Aerospace. HAL is expected to receive 12 additional GE-404 engines by the end of the current financial year.
These engines will power the LCA Mk-1A aircraft, 83 of which have already been ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF). A proposal for an additional 97 LCA Mk-1A jets is currently at an advanced stage, pending final approval from the Defence Ministry.
Earlier this year, GE Aerospace delivered the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL. The public sector aerospace giant aims to deliver over 10 LCA Mk-1A fighters to the IAF in the near future.
The LCA Mk-2, designed to replace legacy fighters like the Mirage 2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar, is also progressing steadily. During a recent visit to HAL’s Bengaluru facility, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P.K. Misra reviewed the status of both Mk-1A and Mk-2 programmes.
With more than 400 LCA variants expected to be produced over the next decade using GE engine technology, India is poised to significantly strengthen its indigenous aerospace capabilities. The government has already sanctioned over ₹9,000 crore for the development of the more advanced LCA Mk-2.
In line with efforts to boost domestic defence manufacturing, a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement for building GE engines in India was negotiated during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in June 2023.
The Tejas is set to become the largest fleet of fighter aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force in the coming years, underscoring India’s growing emphasis on self-reliance in defence production.
