In a major step toward stabilizing India’s premier indigenous fighter programme, GE Aerospace has committed to a significant ramp-up in engine deliveries.
Starting from the 2027–28 financial year (FY), the American aerospace giant will supply 30 F404-IN20 turbofan engines annually to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
This move is specifically designed to clear the production backlogs of the Tejas Mk1A light combat aircraft and ensure a consistent manufacturing rhythm.
Overcoming Supply Chain Obstacles
HAL has recently faced a difficult period characterized by delays in the rollout of the Tejas Mk1A.These setbacks were largely attributed to a global shortage of jet engines, which hindered the final assembly of completed airframes.
The new delivery schedule aims to alleviate this pressure, allowing HAL to fulfill its delivery commitments to the Indian Air Force (IAF) more predictably.
The engine shortage was primarily a result of post-pandemic industrial disruptions.
Factors such as labor shortages at GE’s facilities and bottlenecks in the global aerospace supply chain created a ripple effect, impacting several international defence and commercial aviation projects.
For HAL, this meant that while many fighter airframes were structurally complete, they remained grounded awaiting powerplants.
Scale of Procurement
The volume of engines required for the Tejas programme has grown substantially as the IAF expands its fleet:- 2021 Order: HAL initially contracted GE for 99 engines to power the first batch of 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft.
- 2025 Order: An additional agreement for 113 engines was finalized to support a follow-on order of 97 more aircraft, bringing the total expected Mk1A fleet to 180 units.
Specialized Technology for Indian Conditions
The Tejas Mk1A is powered by the GE F404-IN20, the most potent variant in the F404 engine family.Unlike standard versions used globally, the IN20 is custom-engineered to meet India's unique operational requirements:
- Enhanced Thrust: It generates approximately 84.5 kN (19,000 lbf) of thrust with afterburner, providing superior performance compared to earlier iterations.
- Environmental Resilience: The engine is built to withstand India’s "hot and humid" climate and dusty environments, which typically cause a drop in performance in less specialized hardware.
- Advanced Control: It features a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) system, which automates engine performance optimization and simplifies pilot workload.
Strategic Outlook and Maintenance
Additional open-source reports indicate that the cooperation between GE and India is moving beyond mere procurement.To support the long-term sustainability of the fleet, GE is reportedly planning to establish a dedicated Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India.
With the total inventory of F404 engines in India projected to exceed 270 units, localizing maintenance will significantly reduce the "turnaround time" for repairs and lower the overall lifecycle costs for the IAF.
This industrial roadmap, combined with the commitment to 30 engines per year, is expected to restore the Tejas programme's momentum and help the IAF address its critical fighter squadron shortage by 2030.
