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??

 

[Akshat]

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!!

IAF didn’t choose the engines. ADA chose the engines. They placed orders. And in fact, IAF wanted Kaveri. DRDO failed to make them. Then IAF wanted mk2 but HAL failed to deliver. So they were forced to buy mk1a.

And indeed, that’s the problem. They don’t do the things they are supposed to do.

 

[Akshat]

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??

lol…more lies from the HAL apologist. The deal was directly signed between HAL and GE in August 2021.

Moreover, where are the 3 trainer jets from the mk1 order? Engines for those had been delivered in 2020 itself.

As for informing, entire world knew about it. In fact, HAL itself had ordered extra engines as the supply line was closing.

 

[Akshat]

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

Real delay is from HAL. Where are the 3 trainer jets from mk1 deal for which engines were delivered in 2020 itself?

 

[Akshat]

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

A jet engine can’t be manufactured like that. The government has to release tenders. What are the specifications? What are the dimensions you need? How much air will come in through the inlets? What weight is acceptable? How much thrust will be needed? All these have to be provided by the government first.

 

[Anurag]

lol…more lies from the HAL apologist. The deal was directly signed between HAL and GE in August 2021.

Moreover, where are the 3 trainer jets from the mk1 order? Engines for those had been delivered in 2020 itself.

As for informing, entire world knew about it. In fact, HAL itself had ordered extra engines as the supply line was closing.

Can you show me the proof that the deal is directly between hal and GE?

Show me the data of engines they are available or not??

So GE is ready to commit while knowing that they have shut down everything on what basis??
Here comes the defence of foreign mall!!!

 

[Anurag]

IAF didn’t choose the engines. ADA chose the engines. They placed orders. And in fact, IAF wanted Kaveri. DRDO failed to make them. Then IAF wanted mk2 but HAL failed to deliver. So they were forced to buy mk1a.

And indeed, that’s the problem. They don’t do the things they are supposed to do.

Ohk IAF was more willing to accept EJ2000 but as for the things L1 was choosen!!
They really wanted something from it's own country by spending penies and when it comes to foreign they open their vaults!!
Really a well defined thinking that out us in the conditions where we are today!!

 

[Superpower Bharat]

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??

When we choose F404 then the production line was very much running. But IAF take 5 years to give order of MK1A. And in this gap Production line was closed. So now you decide who is the culprit.

 

[Srinivas Nirmal Kumar Avula]

Now every day hearing about something related to delay has become a part of our lives, weather it's Municipal Corporation projects, State Government projects, Central Government projects OR Defense projects one thing is common is delay.
We blame each other for this & now it has become an acceptable norm in our society.
Unless we don't change this delaying culture inefficacy so much precious national resources are wasted which ultimately leads wastage of money.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

They should plan AMCA MK1 with non US engines. May be AL31FP variant with weight reduction and improved MTBO. Later they can integrate the new engine which is in planning stage. If Kamla and party wins this time then redesign LCA MK2 with AL31FP.

 

[SURESH RAO]

A jet engine can’t be manufactured like that. The government has to release tenders. What are the specifications? What are the dimensions you need? How much air will come in through the inlets? What weight is acceptable? How much thrust will be needed? All these have to be provided by the government first.

Even if the govt provided all the details in a tender, Indian private cos cannot produce a jet engine in 10 years.

Usually the pvt cos indicate to govt that will be capable. After that the govt issues the tender.

 

[UKumar]

We have done a big mistake selecting GE engine for this project, very bad decision, this will be the issue going forward with any of the collaboration with US companies, also the same engine is being provided to South Korean F50 with out any delay and at the cost of HAL's Tejas

 

[Akshat]

Even if the govt provided all the details in a tender, Indian private cos cannot produce a jet engine in 10 years.

Usually the pvt cos indicate to govt that will be capable. After that the govt issues the tender.

It’s the opposite. Usually the government sends out the signals to the private sector and then the sector responds. Otherwise the sector has been asking for major warships for a long time.

And in fact, Kalyani group CEo in fact said that a consortium of private companies with PSUs can make an engine in 10 years. So those signals were sent as well.

 

[Anonymus]

IAF didn’t choose the engines. ADA chose the engines. They placed orders. And in fact, IAF wanted Kaveri. DRDO failed to make them. Then IAF wanted mk2 but HAL failed to deliver. So they were forced to buy mk1a.

And indeed, that’s the problem. They don’t do the things they are supposed to do.

Bro it was IAF decision to choose the engine not ADA as other than f404 there are no other engines avilable at that time which are certified to use as single engine

 

[Akshat]

Ohk IAF was more willing to accept EJ2000 but as for the things L1 was choosen!!
They really wanted something from it's own country by spending penies and when it comes to foreign they open their vaults!!
Really a well defined thinking that out us in the conditions where we are today!!

Bro first please decide if IAF chose F404 or not. Then move to the next topic. You have this habit of deflecting to unrelated issues instead of settling the core issue. Core issue is that you said IAF signed the deal with GE but in reality it was HAL that signed the deal.

 

[Akshat]

Can you show me the proof that the deal is directly between hal and GE?

Show me the data of engines they are available or not??

So GE is ready to commit while knowing that they have shut down everything on what basis??
Here comes the defence of foreign mall!!!

Please google these exact words.

“HAL signs 5375 crore contract with GE Aviation for supply of engines for Tejas”

As for GE, reports have been published that say that GE had already told HAL that they won’t be able to deliver the engines on time but HAL didn’t inform MoD. Nonetheless, if GE is at fault, HAL should fine them. They are the one who signed the deal. We signed the deal with HAL and will hold them responsible. As simple as that.

Disclaimer- Reports regarding GE’s communication about its inability to HAL are based on unnamed sources which I usually don’t trust so trust them at your own peril.