SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a significant development for India’s aerospace sector, General Electric (GE) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are on the verge of concluding a deal for 99 F414-GE-INS6 engines, with the total deal now valued at an estimated $1.5 billion. This marks a substantial increase from the 2010 deal, which was worth $1 billion, adjusted for inflation over nearly 15 years and an increase in the level of technology transfer (ToT) from 56% to 80%, justifying the additional $500 million sought by GE.
The agreement, expected to be finalized by March 2025, will see the first engine rollout of HAL’s engine manufacturing facility in Bangalore by April 2028. GE Aviation has already delivered an initial batch of F414-GE-INS6 engines, that will be used on Tejas MkII Prototypes with subsequent units to be manufactured in India under the ToT arrangement.
This deal not only covers the engines for the Tejas Mk2 but also extends to powering 40 Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) MkI units and some early prototypes of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), pushing the order size past the 200-unit mark by 2038-39.
The F414-GE-INS6 engine stands out as the highest-thrust variant of the F414 series, engineered with cutting-edge technology to fulfil the rigorous demands of both the Indian Air Force and Navy. While the INS6 engine has some Key technical enhancements including the integration of Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) systems and improved safety features for single-engine operations, ensuring reliability and performance under diverse operational conditions, it has the same thrust as the Regular F-414 engine that is powering F-18 E/F Super Hornet and also now Korean KF-21 Block I.
GE Aerospace’s F414 features the latest technologies to enhance engine performance, improve engine durability, and reduce life-cycle cost (LCC) for current and future operators of next-generation combat aircraft.
With the transfer of technology covering an unprecedented 80%, HAL is poised to significantly enhance its expertise in high-thrust jet engine production, which is critical for India’s long-term defense strategy and technological sovereignty.
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