GE F-404 Engine Shortage Stalls Tejas Mk1A Production at HAL's Nashik Facility

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the primary manufacturer of India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), is facing significant production delays for the Tejas Mk1A due to a shortage of F-404 engines from GE Aerospace.

This setback has impacted the planned rollout of the first Tejas Mk1A jet from HAL's new production line in Nashik, pushing the milestone from November 2024 to March 2025.

HAL currently produces 16 Tejas LCA aircraft per year at its two facilities in Bangalore. The Nashik facility, intended to boost production capacity with an initial output of five Tejas Mk1A jets annually (eventually increasing to eight), is now facing hurdles due to the engine shortage. This delay directly affects HAL's ability to meet the Indian Air Force's (IAF) order of 83 Tejas Mk1A jets, a contract worth ₹46,898 crore signed in February 2021.

The F-404 engine, manufactured by GE Aerospace, is the powerplant for the Tejas Mk1A. GE Aerospace has attributed the supply delay to global supply chain disruptions impacting the aerospace industry. This shortage affects not only the production of new aircraft but also the maintenance and upgrade of existing Tejas aircraft requiring engine replacements or overhauls.

This delay raises concerns about HAL's ability to meet its delivery schedule for the Tejas Mk1A, a crucial component of the IAF's modernization plans. The Nashik facility was expected to alleviate pressure on existing production lines and expedite deliveries. However, the engine supply bottleneck has stalled these efforts.

 

[sanket]

As I already said Nashik plant may start in November 2024 But delay in GE-404 Engine delivery is Impacting, HAL is on its Target But so called OEM are falling behind, I think GE is likely to Miss 5th deadline November 2024 too, no update till now

 

[Ronin]

Nashik plant will soon start making Super-30 and will be fully utilized for that purpose.

 

[M S Chatterji]

News or local gossip. The real delay is the engine which has to come from USA.

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

Instead of sitting and waiting for the engines, HAL, IAF and ADA should search other alternatives. If any other engine can work in Tejas with modification to the aircraft. Kaveri engines should be fast tracked and tested.

 

[Hey]

As I already said Nashik plant may start in November 2024 But delay in GE-404 Engine delivery is Impacting, HAL is on its Target But so called OEM are falling behind, I think GE is likely to Miss 5th deadline November 2024 too, no update till now

According to news reports, first engine will come by Feb- March & second engine next month after the delivery of first engine.

 

[Neel Martin]

I still say India is in big trouble.

We will get F404, F414 (TOT) only if we buy MRFA aircrafts, Stryker, MQ9 etc from USA.

America is taking advantage of India's current situation. The US is taking advantage of the fact that India is in a position to strengthen its air force after seeing the air forces of Pakistan and China. We have no choice now.

While we were designing aircraft like Tejas, AMCA, TEDBF, America should have designed without engine dependence.

Now if we have to change the design of our planes to suit the French and Russian engines, it will take another ten years.

The same F404 engine is going to countries like South Korea F50, Turkey Hurjet, Sweden JAS39, US Boieng saab Red Hawk and so on

India's current situation is very bad, the design of the aircraft cannot be changed and the engine cannot be changed. Engine and technology will not be available unless we buy American goods..

 

[Anant]

Minor correction: HAL has been aiming to build 16 jets a year in the two lines in Bangalore. They haven't managed that yet.

 

[sanket]

According to news reports, first engine will come by Feb- March & second engine next month after the delivery of first engine.

Very unprofessional from GE Tarikh pe Tarikh

 

[Anant]

I still say India is in big trouble.

America is taking advantage of India's current situation. The US is taking advantage of the fact that India is in a position to strengthen its air force after seeing the air forces of Pakistan and China. We have no choice now.

The same F404 engine is going to countries like South Korea F50, Turkey Hurjet, Sweden JAS39, US Boieng saab Red Hawk and so on

Um, F404 delays to South Korea and Turkey are also delayed. That indicates the supply chain issues are very real.

As for the others, Sweden builds Gripen Es mostly now, which require F414 engines. The Boeing-Saab T-7 is still a few years away from serial production, so engine deliveries there haven't happened either.

 

[bonito]

As I mentioned earlier I predicted Jan or Sep 2025. Now I bet even if engine is delivered today the fighter jet will be rolled out by Sep 2025. I suspect HAL has many more excuses to make.

it is still not clear what happened to 33 engines.

 

[Sudha]

Very unprofessional from GE Tarikh pe Tarikh

Unprofessional of HAL selecting an egine production of which was closed.

 

[SURESH RAO]

Indian pvt players like adani or reliance or tata or Mahindra should have initiated engine development activity in 2014. Indian private players have proved to be in competant

 

[Anurag]

Unprofessional of HAL selecting an egine production of which was closed.

Why blaming hal for this?? IAF choose the engines. It's really interesting they got all the blame even for the things they didn't do!!

 

[Anurag]

Unprofessional of HAL selecting an egine production of which was closed.

It's IAF choice and it is selected on the basis of L1 and engine deal is with IAF, Hal is not involved even in the deal itself!!
If OEM really can't supply the engines and if production was closed then they should inform it before the deal?? If you don't have the product then why giving commitment to the buyers in the first place??