GE Commits to Deliver 24 F404 Engines for Tejas Mk1A in FY2026-27, Scaling to 30 Annually Thereafter: Confirms HAL

After a period of uncertainty regarding the production timelines of India's indigenous fighter program, significant clarity has emerged regarding the supply of engines, which has been a primary constraint for the Tejas Mk1A.

In a definitive update, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director D.K. Sunil has confirmed that General Electric (GE) has formally committed to a distinct and accelerated delivery schedule for the F404-IN20 engines required to power the aircraft.

According to the newly established timeline, GE is set to supply 24 engines during the financial year 2026-27. Following this phase, the delivery rate is projected to increase to 30 engines annually starting from FY2027-28, eventually stabilizing at an average of 28 to 30 units per year.

Looking at the long-term supply chain, the projected flow of engine deliveries over the coming financial years is expected to follow a sequence of 20, 32, 32, and 30 units.

This detailed schedule provides both HAL and the Indian Air Force (IAF) with a realistic roadmap for when the manufacturing lines can reach peak capacity.

These figures are underpinned by substantial contractual commitments rather than mere estimates.

HAL has secured firm orders for a total of 212 F404-IN20 engines across two major agreements: an initial contract for 99 engines signed in 2021, and a follow-on deal for 113 engines finalized in late 2025.

This extensive order book is directly aligned with the IAF’s requirements, covering the 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft currently under contract as well as the anticipated additional order for 97 fighters.

Crucially, this commitment from the US-based manufacturer is supported by tangible operational upgrades.

GE has invested in expanding its production capabilities, which includes the establishment of a dedicated manufacturing line and the integration of advanced automation systems.

These improvements are specifically targeted at the testing phase—previously a bottleneck—where engines are subjected to rigorous quality checks before dispatch.

These measures are intended to resolve the supply chain disruptions, such as those involving sub-tier suppliers, which had previously hampered delivery schedules.

For observers of the Indian defence sector, this development marks a pivotal shift.

The delay in engine supplies had forced the IAF to recalibrate its squadron induction plans while continuing to operate ageing fleets of MiG-21s and Jaguars.

With GE’s augmented capacity now operational and HAL’s leadership expressing confidence in the revised schedule, the pathway to mass production appears significantly more robust.

The implications of this stabilized supply chain are strategic as well as industrial. A steady arrival of 30 engines per year will allow HAL to produce approximately two squadrons of fighter jets annually, provided that final assembly and flight-testing processes remain synchronized.

This rate of production is essential for restoring the IAF’s combat squadron strength, particularly at a time when regional security challenges demand a credible and growing air power capability.

 

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[netram]

Oh our supreme anglo overlords have blessed us with their wonder machines. Our Bureaucrats, Politicians and Scientists should pat themselves in the back for playing the role of loyal sepoys so well.
Now that the Chinese have built their own domestic propulsion industry based on tech their acquired by every means necessary I doubt our mandarins can hide behind "but tech so hard, only white man can".
But, who knows, our elites are shameless bootlickers, and given the opportunity they just might resort to "tech too expensive, but revenue exp very important for next election".
Funny when Chinese communists in power are more nationalistic in pursuit of their nation's cause than self proclaimed Indian Nationalists who have been in power since independence till now(regardless of party affiliation) are for India's.
Indians prioritize what the white man gave us(parliamentary demoocrussy, freedumb and common law cuckery) than what our people need now and in the future.
What a fking disappointment of country.
I'd rather Modi be the fascist he is accused of being or Maybe even bring Indira Gandhi back from dead or hell create a New Nationalist/Communist Leninist Party that aggressively pursues Indian National interest.
Parliamentary democracy and all its associated blessings have proved to be utter and absolute failures and the only reason that Indians havent been drilled into on this reality is due to the institutional control of liberal progressive parasites in HSS divisions on one end and opportunistic rent seekers trying to make a reputation for themselves without contributing to national development (just look at all the major HSS infested universities that have popped up to complent JNUs parasitism, Ashoka University, Shiv Nadar's institution, Jindal's institution, TISS).
I'd rather we have a Nationalist Communist state with public ownership of land to keep these disparate vermin under state control than live in a democracy where national interest is always subservient to liberal leeches who seek to and minoritarian secessionists with Islamist aspirations.

 

[Pankajrai]

India must think of replacing GE f404 with Kaveri 2.0 Tejas can not be said reliable unless it has an indigenous engine. In modern scenario we can't trust GE or any foreign company. Who dares to say that these engines are not having the kill switch ????

 

[Madan]

Oh our supreme anglo overlords have blessed us with their wonder machines. Our Bureaucrats, Politicians and Scientists should pat themselves in the back for playing the role of loyal sepoys so well.
Now that the Chinese have built their own domestic propulsion industry based on tech their acquired by every means necessary I doubt our mandarins can hide behind "but tech so hard, only white man can".
But, who knows, our elites are shameless bootlickers, and given the opportunity they just might resort to "tech too expensive, but revenue exp very important for next election".
Funny when Chinese communists in power are more nationalistic in pursuit of their nation's cause than self proclaimed Indian Nationalists who have been in power since independence till now(regardless of party affiliation) are for India's.
Indians prioritize what the white man gave us(parliamentary demoocrussy, freedumb and common law cuckery) than what our people need now and in the future.
What a fking disappointment of country.
I'd rather Modi be the fascist he is accused of being or Maybe even bring Indira Gandhi back from dead or hell create a New Nationalist/Communist Leninist Party that aggressively pursues Indian National interest.
Parliamentary democracy and all its associated blessings have proved to be utter and absolute failures and the only reason that Indians havent been drilled into on this reality is due to the institutional control of liberal progressive parasites in HSS divisions on one end and opportunistic rent seekers trying to make a reputation for themselves without contributing to national development (just look at all the major HSS infested universities that have popped up to complent JNUs parasitism, Ashoka University, Shiv Nadar's institution, Jindal's institution, TISS).
I'd rather we have a Nationalist Communist state with public ownership of land to keep these disparate vermin under state control than live in a democracy where national interest is always subservient to liberal leeches who seek to and minoritarian secessionists with Islamist aspirations.

You are absolutely right 👍.

 

[Madan]

Ek ne kahi doosre ne mani. Done gyani. GE speaks, HAL agrees and both think people will believe them. Country is watching their tantrums for a long time now. HAL should have invoked the penalty clause on GE for not fulfilling the commitment. But HAL is wagging its tail and giving further orders. Atleast it should have gone for some other engine for the second batch of MK IA. HAL had enough time for that as completing the first order itself on this pace will take another decade. Thanks God that it is out of AMCA race.

 

[binubodo19]

Result of foreign dependency and lack of farsightedness from our previous govt and Administrators. Kaveri???? Till when will our scientific community from GTRE keep eating money without any outcome on Kaveri engine. If they can't engineer a new machine why can't they try to reverse engineer an old machine. What are they doing with the old machines after an aircraft is fitted with a new machine?