SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a strategic move to address the ongoing delays in the supply of the high-thrust F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Mk1A light combat aircraft, General Electric (GE) has proposed an interim solution to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). GE suggests using the lower thrust F404-GE-102 engines, which are currently manufactured by Samsung Techwin for the Korean KAI/LMTAS T-50 advanced trainer/light fighter.
The F404-GE-102 engines offer a maximum thrust of 78.7 kN with afterburner, which is slightly less than the 84 kN provided by the F404-IN20 engines specifically designed for the Tejas Mk1A. These engines are suggested as a stopgap measure until the production of the F404-IN20 engines can be ramped up to meet HAL’s requirements. Once the new engines are available, the lower thrust versions could be swapped out.
HAL would not need to buy these engines outright but could use them on a temporary basis, thus maintaining the production and delivery schedule of the Tejas Mk1A without long-term commitment to the lower thrust variant.
The F404-GE-102 engines from Samsung Techwin come with additional redundancies for single-engine operations, similar to those in the F404-IN20, making them suitable for the Tejas Mk1A, which is a single-engine fighter. Samsung Techwin has a surplus of these engines, which could be quickly made available to meet HAL’s interim needs.
These engines are not only used in the T-50 but are also slated for use in the Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk and the TAI Hürjet, indicating their reliability and versatility across different aircraft designs. This proposal could help HAL avoid production bottlenecks due to engine supply issues, ensuring that the Indian Air Force receives its Tejas Mk1A fighters in a timely manner.
While the US Navy has surplus F-404 engines from its older F/A-18 Hornets, these are not optimized for single-engine fighter operations, making the Samsung Techwin engines a more fitting choice for this specific application.
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