GE Gears Up for F-404 Engine Deliveries to India with Two Scheduled for Shipment This Month

GE Aerospace is poised to begin delivering F-404 engines to India this month, with two engines already scheduled for shipment. This development is expected to significantly accelerate the production of Tejas light combat aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The US aerospace giant has committed to delivering an additional six F-404 engines by the end of March 2025. This timely supply will enable HAL to provide at least eight Tejas Mk1 Trainer and Mk1A jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF) within the same timeframe.

HAL is not waiting idly, having already completed five Tejas Mk1 Trainer aircraft with three more nearing completion by year-end. An additional three are slated for completion by March 2025. The first Tejas Mk1A has also been manufactured, with three more awaiting the new engines.

In a move to optimize aircraft performance, HAL plans to replace the Grade B engines on some Tejas Mk1 Trainers with new ones before their final delivery to the IAF. This strategic decision highlights HAL's commitment to delivering top-tier aircraft.

The prompt delivery of F-404 engines by GE Aerospace is pivotal in ramping up Tejas production and fulfilling the IAF’s requirements. This progress marks a significant stride towards spearheading India's Tejas Mk1A production.

 

[tipoo2]

with these two engines india will defeat china

Haters will say it's not true

 

[Ankit Shakya]

JUST HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR SOME FAALTOO LAST MINUTE CHANGES!!!! Still, it is a very good idea to develop Tejas MK1B using RD93MA engines and also, ORCA-TEF-Tejas-Naval for IAF and IN two versions using made in India by HAL Khorapur factory RD33MK Sea Wasp engines.

It amazes me how people who have never done any actual engineering work keeps making all these comments on engine changes. An engine change will lead to structural changes (unless the dimensions of engine being replaced have similar dimensions) in the aircraft airframe and one needs to re do all sort of modifications to maintain the flight envelope. This will again lead to lots of delays.

 

[Sandeep]

WOW , these people are living in some bygone era while others are making rapid progress in deploying 5th gen fighters and laying foundation for 6th gen. Appreciate the Chinese even though hostile to India are 50 years ahead of us

Actually they only got ahead because of copying or stealing the technology. Also their jets are not really 5th generation at all. Our 20yr old Sukhoi could clearly see their so called stealth jet across the LAC. Just by sticking a name on something doesn’t make it a reality.

 

[Sandeep]

with these two engines india will defeat china

We can win by using our nuclear weapons. All it takes is a well timed and well placed saturated nuclear attack on their capital when their senior leaders and top command are all present.

 

[vickram 007]

RD93 engines will require ADA certification. Lots of dumb people here commenting that HAL gets to choose the engine

 

[Sandeep]

I think there needs to be an investigation done by CAG, and a white paper needs to be released to media on every major defence project. Why delay happened, who is responsible, how much money went where???

Responsibility needs to be fixed. Otherwise blame game will keep on happening, and public will remain idiots.

How can we force GE to supply an engine when they are having supply chain issues or whatever issues themselves? The engines and contract were signed which is legally binding. What investigation are you going to do from our side when we have no jurisdiction in the USA?

Not everything in life can be controlled by our government and not everything is their fault. So what’s a joke?

 

[Sandeep]

Whatever the reason for the delay India should keep producing the jets and install an engine whenever they come here. Ideally we should make a deal to manufacture the GE 404 engines in India as in total we will be using 200 Tejas MK1A jets and on average over a 30-40 year period the jet will use at least 3-4 engines so the total requirement is 600-800 engines. We will also need to setup its MRO facilities anyway so we should make a long term deal with GE.

The other alternative is to buy and import 200 F404 engines off the shelf from GE. Then we can replace them with the F414 engines which will give it more speed and power when the F404 engines have completed their lifespan. With the F414 engine we get 80% of the technology and manufacture that amount with indigenous content. Also it’s possible that with any upgrades to the jets technology and equipment the Tejas MK1A will need an engine upgrade sooner or later. If we need to make some minor modifications to the jet and its air frames to fit the F414 engine then it’s better to do that.

 

[pankaj gupta]

Our need is so large that all the options should be exercised to achieve our minimum inventory levels

 

[Anant]

We can win by using our nuclear weapons. All it takes is a well timed and well placed saturated nuclear attack on their capital when their senior leaders and top command are all present.

And practically all nuclear powers have some form of fall-back system in case of a decapitation strike such as the one you suggested. No one wins if you use nukes.

 

[Debunk007]

HAL and Co have been working hard since 1985 to produce the Kaveri engine. Can't u guys have some "patience" ? 😂😅

 

[bonito]

Disagree with you. All the good engineers are going to MNCs for their job . Do not talk quota . I am from south India. My state has BCs and SCs over 80%. and we provided reservations for them. My state is one of the leading state in india in social development , education and industrial development . Our state people contribute considerably to ISRO and DRDO. If all caste people are in equal state. Then there is no need for reservations. But still not that much. Improvements. In my state it has improved lot but in other state still it is not improved. I can see a thousands of migrant workers coming to my state for working as labourers in hotels , industries for low wage . So it is not because of reservations

Very unfortunate that DMK poison doesn't tell you that state gives hardly 8% jobs to the workforce. Rest 92% is private jobs. What the social justice imparted in the state is just nothing but anti-brahmin narrative. That's all. It has nothing to do with growth and development. Had the kaveri flowed perennially 80% would be still under developed. It took 50 yrs to be realize by the people that they cannot survive by agriculture and hence sought educated and sought jobs

 

[Ajay]

Till now 20 should have arrived! India doesn't have a choice but to welcome what's coming, while focusing on alternatives.
India trusted US and never thought abt such situation. The entire design went ahead assuming F404s and 414s.
GE changed "Low Thrust" discussion to "No Trust".

 

[DNA57]

Not one two or six....there should be a continuous flow of engines.

 

[Bard of Anarchy]

6 per year, indeed a milestone 🤡🥱

 

[ramdas]

Actually they only got ahead because of copying or stealing the technology. Also their jets are not really 5th generation at all. Our 20yr old Sukhoi could clearly see their so called stealth jet across the LAC. Just by sticking a name on something doesn’t make it a reality.

Don’t be in the wonderland, their J20 is equal to F35. One should not underestimate the enemy. Already started to replace the AL31 engines with their own WS10 and WS10C powerful ones. So they are far ahead in the curve.

 

[Sunil Choan]

Excitement not necessary only for middle men. Celebrations only when Kaveri is ready and installed

 

[Sandeep]

Don’t be in the wonderland, their J20 is equal to F35. One should not underestimate the enemy. Already started to replace the AL31 engines with their own WS10 and WS10C powerful ones. So they are far ahead in the curve.

It’s not about being in a wonderland and their J20 is not equal to the F35. Explain this reality and fact that if their J20 was so advanced with their stealth material then how come our Sukhoi jet using 20yr old technology could see their jet? Obviously you should never underestimate the enemy and always be alert and achieve the best technology and weapons but they aren’t as good as they claim it to be.

 

[Sandeep]

And practically all nuclear powers have some form of fall-back system in case of a decapitation strike such as the one you suggested. No one wins if you use nukes.

It depends because if you eliminate the top command and major cities then it’s hard for them to respond. Also if we hit their own nuclear weapons stockpile then it increases the damage even more. This gives an advantage and we can use the BMD to kill any of their SLBM.

 

[Akshat]

Kaveri work should be continued. Till the time it is not available, we should go for Russian engines for TEDBF. They may not be as good as western ones, but in case of sanctions or arm twisting by the west they will be available. May be next decade we have kaveri available for integration then things should change.

And what will happen when we go to war with China or Pakistan? Russia will stop the spares instantly. All the best with those junk engines at that time.

As for Kaveri, it won’t be coming till the time DRDO is on the job.

 

[Akshat]

I think there needs to be an investigation done by CAG, and a white paper needs to be released to media on every major defence project. Why delay happened, who is responsible, how much money went where???

Responsibility needs to be fixed. Otherwise blame game will keep on happening, and public will remain idiots.

While not on individual projects, such a study has already been done. DRdO is responsible for 60% of all the delays. 18% are due to changes in specifications by the armed forces. And that was assuming my all the projects which are declared successful are successful. Many of the projects declared a success actually failed to meet many critical parameters.

 

[Akshat]

How can we force GE to supply an engine when they are having supply chain issues or whatever issues themselves? The engines and contract were signed which is legally binding. What investigation are you going to do from our side when we have no jurisdiction in the USA?

Not everything in life can be controlled by our government and not everything is their fault. So what’s a joke?

But we can surely investigate why HAL didn’t deliver the trainers on time, right?

 

[RalphRearden]

WE must absolutely have a backup engine option, RD-33 enhanced version ...apart from autonomy it will aid India in selling Tejas to countries banned from operating allowed US hardware

 

[Ayyadurai Namasivayam]

Very unfortunate that DMK poison doesn't tell you that state gives hardly 8% jobs to the workforce. Rest 92% is private jobs. What the social justice imparted in the state is just nothing but anti-brahmin narrative. That's all. It has nothing to do with growth and development. Had the kaveri flowed perennially 80% would be still under developed. It took 50 yrs to be realize by the people that they cannot survive by agriculture and hence sought educated and sought jobs

I would confidentiality say only because of reservation my state is in such a developed state. Only people like you are against the reservation. We are not against brahmins. Several Brahmins are in a leadership position in software firms. So you have no reason to say only reservation is the cause for failure in drdo projects.

 

[R. Singh]

Govt should ink deal with France allowing Safran to set up engine plant in India ! GTRE+HAL+ Safran should first certify Kaveri 2.0 (80+) KN for Trainers and twin engine ORCA to replace Jaguar fighter ! Then develop a 90Kn engine for Tejas-1A (97 on order) and 125 KN engine for AMCA before 2026 & 2035)

 

[Sandeep]

But we can surely investigate why HAL didn’t deliver the trainers on time, right?

Yes absolutely. They should do that and find out the reasons for the delay or problems on their side or not.

 

[Anant]

It depends because if you eliminate the top command and major cities then it’s hard for them to respond. Also if we hit their own nuclear weapons stockpile then it increases the damage even more. This gives an advantage and we can use the BMD to kill any of their SLBM.

In theory, yes. In practice, a strike like that pretty much defeats the whole point of a decapitation strike, and moves things very quickly into the realm of full-scale attacks.

 

[Sandeep]

In theory, yes. In practice, a strike like that pretty much defeats the whole point of a decapitation strike, and moves things very quickly into the realm of full-scale attacks.

But if they hit China's own nuclear stockpiles or plants then it will increase their damage. We need the ability to launch a range of nuclear weapons on them and get it

 

[Anant]

But if they hit China's own nuclear stockpiles or plants then it will increase their damage. We need the ability to launch a range of nuclear weapons on them and get it

Nuclear weapons don't detonate just like that. There is a very specific sequence of events that needs to happen.

Keeping aside the fact that most of the stockpile of any nation would also be kept at some relatively secretive locations, suppose you do hit such a location. What will happen is that the other warheads will only contribute to the radiation spreading. It won't affect the damage itself.

Moreover, the moment you do that, you are irrevocably down the road of MAD. It looks sound in theory, but is not workable practically.

 

[Dr. Saptarishi Chatterjee]

If the rate of delivery is 2 per 6 month, then 6 , then 2, then we will receive 80 Tejas by 2040, I don't think HAL will be able to deliver 83 Tejas by 2029. The most probable picture is HAL will deliver only 40 Tejas by 2029, then the 40 MK1 will be upgraded to MK1A and By then MK2 will come by 2030. But by the same time our neighbors will acquire 5th Gen, therefore MK2 will be cancelled and Either a 5th Gen AMCA will be procured in small numbers 2 sqadrons and MRFA deliveries will also start, most likely Rafale..