SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a setback for India’s Tejas Mk-1A fighter program, GE Aerospace has confirmed that the delivery of two F404-IN20 engines, originally scheduled for later this month, has been pushed back to November. This delay adds to the ongoing challenges faced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in procuring the necessary engines for the production of the Tejas Mk-1A.
The Tejas Mk-1A, a more advanced variant of the Tejas light combat aircraft, made its maiden flight in March this year with Category B reserved engines. HAL had been relying on GE Aerospace to supply 16 engines for the current financial year. However, due to production constraints, the delivery schedule was revised, and GE Aerospace committed to providing six engines before the end of March 2025.
Unfortunately, it now appears that even this revised timeline is unlikely to be met. The delay in engine deliveries has significant implications for the production and delivery of Tejas Mk-1A fighters, potentially affecting the Indian Air Force’s modernization plans.
GE Aerospace has blamed shutting down on many of older suppliers of the F-404 engine at Pandemic times due to lack of orders for the engine in its US facility since USAF no longer orders aircrafts with F-404 engines as one of the main reasons behind disturbed supply chain and time required to create alternative supply chain.
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