GE Aerospace reached a significant point in its enduring association with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) this week, delivering the first F404-IN20 engine on Tuesday, March 25.
This engine is the initial unit from a total order of 99, destined to power India's domestically developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, enhancing the nation's air power capabilities.
Shawn Warren, General Manager of Combat & Trainer Engines at GE Aerospace, acknowledged the importance of this event. He noted the delivery as a key milestone achieved within the company's 40-year partnership with HAL.
Warren reiterated GE Aerospace's dedication to bolstering India's defence potential through support for next-generation fighter development and the strengthening of the country's defence manufacturing base.
The F404-IN20 engine, a tailored version belonging to GE's widely used F404 family, is engineered for high levels of performance and dependability. It will propel the Tejas LCA Mk1A, an indigenous single-engine multirole fighter aircraft.
This advanced Mk1A version is a crucial element of India's strategy to equip its air force with cutting-edge, locally produced technology and features significant improvements over earlier Tejas models.
This delivery follows a long history of cooperation between GE Aerospace and India's aeronautical sector. The relationship began in the 1980s with collaborations involving the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
GE's F404 engine was first selected for the Tejas program back in 2004, powering previous versions of the light combat aircraft before the current agreement for the Mk 1A variant's 99 engines was finalized.
The Tejas Mk1A aircraft itself incorporates substantial upgrades, including an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, updated avionics, an electronic warfare suite, and enhanced maintainability compared to the initial operational versions. These improvements aim to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of the aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The supply of these engines supports the IAF's order for 83 Tejas Mk 1A aircraft. The successful progression of the Tejas program, India's premier indigenous fighter jet initiative, is vital for modernizing the IAF's fleet and aligns with the national objective of achieving greater self-reliance ('Atmanirbhar Bharat') in the crucial sector of defence manufacturing.
