SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
At the Aero India 2025 airshow, held from February 10-14 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, a senior official from GE Aerospace spoke exclusively to idrw.org, shedding light on the company’s plans to collaborate with India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) for the development of a successor to the F414-GE-INS6 engine.
The GE official confirmed that the F414-GE-INS6, a variant of the F414 engine tailored for Indian requirements, will power the first 40 units of the AMCA MkI. This engine, which delivers approximately 98 kN (22,000 lbf) of thrust, has been configured to meet the AMCA’s initial design specifications, including stealth features, supercruise capability, and advanced avionics integration. The F414-GE-INS6 is already under contract for the Tejas MkII, with GE Aerospace securing a $716 million deal in 2023 to supply 99 engines, to be co-produced with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under an 80% technology transfer agreement.
“The F414-GE-INS6 engines are well-suited for the AMCA MkI, which is configured around this powerplant,” the GE official told idrw.org. “The first 40 units of the AMCA MkI will rely on this engine, providing the IAF with a capable fifth-generation platform while indigenous engine development progresses.” The AMCA MkI, expected to roll out by 2028 and enter production in the mid-2030s, will serve as a stepping stone for the more advanced AMCA MkII variant.
While the F414-GE-INS6 meets the requirements of the AMCA MkI, the GE official emphasized that the AMCA MkII and future variants will demand an engine with greater thrust and enhanced features to fully realize the potential of a fifth-generation fighter. To address this, GE is eager to partner with GTRE to develop a successor to the F414-GE-INS6, tentatively described as an engine with a new core capable of delivering higher thrust and improved performance.
“The AMCA MkII will require an engine with more thrust and features that meet the criteria of a fifth-generation fighter jet,” the official explained. “We are working with GTRE to develop an F414-GE-INS6 successor that can provide this capability while requiring minimal design changes to the AMCA airframe.” The goal is to create an engine that seamlessly integrates with the AMCA’s existing design, minimizing the need for extensive modifications and reducing development costs and timelines.
The GE official revealed that the successor engine will feature a new core, enabling it to be upgraded for higher thrust levels—potentially exceeding 110 kN (24,700 lbf)—to meet the AMCA MkII’s requirements. This scalability also positions the engine as a candidate for future AMCA variants beyond MkII or even next-generation programs. “The new core will allow us to upgrade the engine for higher thrust as needed, ensuring it remains relevant for the AMCA program and potentially for India’s next-gen fighter initiatives,” the official added.
When asked about intellectual property rights (IPR), the GE official clarified that any new engine development would involve shared IPR based on the contributions of each company. “The IPR for the F414-GE-INS6 successor will be shared between GE and GTRE, reflecting the technology developed by each partner,” the official told idrw.org. “This ensures that both parties benefit from the collaboration while respecting the intellectual contributions made.”
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