India has received the second GE-F404-IN20 engine from the United States for its LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jet programme. Public sector defence manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) confirmed the delivery. The first engine was received in March 2025.
Key Highlights
- The GE-F404-IN20 engine is manufactured by General Electric (GE) and is meant to power India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A.
- HAL will receive 12 more engines by the end of the current financial year (FY 2025–26).
- Delivery delayed by over a year due to supply chain disruptions, including issues with a South Korean component supplier.
- Full-scale production of Tejas Mk1A expected to touch 30 aircraft/year by 2026–27.
Tejas Fighter Jet Programme Overview
- Indian Air Force (IAF) has already placed an order for 83 Tejas Mk1A jets.
- A proposal to procure 97 additional Mk1A jets is at an advanced approval stage.
- IAF’s long-term induction plan includes 352 Tejas jets (Mk1A + Mk2 variants).
- HAL aims to deliver over 10 Mk1A jets in 2025, despite engine delays.
Production & Delivery Details
- India signed a $716 million deal with GE in 2021 for 99 GE-F404 engines.
- Delivery delayed, but GE will now deliver 2 engines per month till March 2026.
- HAL had to rotate engines between aircraft for test flights due to shortages.
- Penalties on GE may be considered for missing timelines.
Additional Defence Context: Emergency ATGM Procurement
- India is exploring an emergency procurement of Javelin anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) from the US.
- Indian infantry authorised for 3,000–5,000 launchers and over 2 lakh missiles.
- Current inventory is outdated (2nd-gen systems) with a shortfall of ~68,000 missiles and 850 launchers.
Significance
- Boosts Make-in-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence aviation.
- Enhances India’s air combat readiness with modern, indigenous jets.
- Addresses engine shortages, ensuring timely delivery of fighter jets to IAF.
About GE-F404 Engine
- The GE-F404-IN20 is a twin-spool, low-bypass turbofan engine known for high thrust-to-weight ratio and reliability.
- Previously used in aircraft like F/A-18 Hornet, now adapted for India’s LCA Tejas Mk1A.