SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant boost to India’s indigenous fighter jet program, GE Aerospace has assured Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) that it will increase production of the F404-IN20 engine from the current 12 units per year to 24 units per year starting in 2027. This commitment comes after a 14-month delay in engine deliveries, which had disrupted HAL’s production timeline for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A. Sources close to idrw.org confirm that GE has already delivered one F404 engine and is now working to meet HAL’s requirements, addressing earlier setbacks caused by the closure of its production line.
The F404-IN20, a high-thrust variant of GE’s renowned F404 engine family, is specifically tailored for the single-engine Tejas Mk1A, delivering a thrust of 84 kN. It features advanced components like a higher-flow fan and single-crystal turbine blades, making it the most powerful engine in the F404 series and a critical component for the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is grappling with a shortage of fighter squadrons. The IAF has ordered 83 LCA Mk1A jets under a ?48,000-crore deal signed in February 2021, with an additional 97 jets under consideration, bringing the total potential order to 180 aircraft. HAL aims to produce 24 jets annually to meet this demand, a target that hinges on a steady supply of engines from GE.
The 14-month delay in F404 engine deliveries, which began after the original schedule of March 2024, stemmed from the closure of GE’s production line, which had been dormant for five years due to a gap in orders between 2016 and 2021. The reactivation process was further complicated by global supply chain disruptions and the need to re-certify vendors, a challenge GE has faced across its aerospace portfolio. The first engine was finally delivered on March 25, 2025, with GE committing to supply 11 more by the end of 2025, totaling 12 for the year. This initial delivery has allowed HAL to proceed with testing and integration, with three LCA Mk1A airframes already completed and 11 more in advanced stages at its Bengaluru and Nashik facilities.
GE’s assurance to scale production to 24 engines per year by 2027 aligns with HAL’s goal of delivering 16-24 jets annually to the IAF. The increased production rate will support not only the current order of 83 LCA Mk1A jets, expected to be completed by 2029, but also the additional 97 jets, targeted for delivery by FY31-32. However, the delay has already impacted the IAF’s modernization plans, with squadron strength projected to drop to 27 by 2032 if production timelines slip further. Critics argue that GE’s earlier failure to anticipate supply chain challenges, despite signing a $716-million contract in August 2021, reflects poorly on its commitment to India’s defense needs, especially given the strategic importance of the Tejas program amid regional tensions with China and Pakistan.
The F404-IN20’s role extends beyond the LCA Mk1A, as its predecessor, the F404, has powered the Tejas Mk1 since the 1980s, with 65 engines delivered by 2016. The renewed partnership between GE and HAL, now spanning four decades, also includes plans for co-production of the more advanced F414 engine for the LCA Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with an 80% technology transfer agreement signed in 2023.
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