SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a significant boost to India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A program, GE Aerospace has reaffirmed its commitment to supply 12 F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by the end of 2025, following a revised delivery schedule. The announcement comes after GE delivered the first of 99 contracted engines on March 25, 2025, with plans to ship two additional engines starting in July, despite a brief agreed-upon pause in the delivery timeline. This development, reported by idrw.org that HAL can operationalize the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) first Tejas Mk1A squadron by year-end, a critical step in addressing India’s dwindling fighter squadron strength.
The F404-IN20 engine, a high-thrust variant tailored for the Tejas Mk1A, is a cornerstone of India’s indigenous fighter jet program. The initial delivery in March 2025 marked the end of a nearly two-year delay, attributed to global supply chain disruptions and the complexities of restarting the F404-IN20 production line, dormant since 2016 after GE fulfilled an earlier order of 65 engines for the Tejas Mk1. The first engine arrived at HAL on April 3, 2025, and with two more engines scheduled monthly from July, GE has committed to delivering a total of 12 engines by December 31, 2025. This includes the initial unit plus 11 additional engines, aligning with HAL’s goal to produce at least eight Tejas Mk1A jets—six fighters and two trainers—sufficient to form the IAF’s first squadron of 18 aircraft.
The brief pause in deliveries, agreed upon by GE and HAL, reflects ongoing efforts to stabilize the supply chain, which faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and a five-year gap in orders between 2016 and 2021. Despite these hurdles, GE’s accelerated delivery plan, supported by its proprietary FLIGHT DECK operating model, ensures a steady flow of engines to keep HAL’s production lines in Bengaluru and Nashik operational. HAL has already completed three Tejas Mk1A airframes, with LA 5033 conducting its maiden flight in March 2024 using reserve Category-B engines, and 11 more jets are in advanced stages of assembly. The 12 engines slated for 2025 will enable HAL to meet its target of delivering 12 jets by year-end, as confirmed by HAL Chairman D.K. Sunil at Aero India 2025.
The Tejas Mk1A, an advanced variant of the LCA with improved avionics, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and enhanced electronic warfare systems, is pivotal to the IAF’s modernization efforts. With the IAF’s squadron strength at 31 against a sanctioned 42.5, and aging MiG-21s being phased out, the timely delivery of these engines is critical. The 83-aircraft order signed in February 2021, valued at ?48,000 crore, and an additional 97 jets approved in principle, underscore the program’s importance. GE’s commitment to ramp up to 20 engines annually from 2026 will further support HAL’s expanded production capacity of 24 jets per year, enabling the IAF to induct one full squadron and partially form a second each year.
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