GE Offers F-414 Engine and Tech Transfer to Power India's AMCA Fighter Jet Ambitions

General Electric (GE) is poised to play a pivotal role in India's ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, offering its F-414 engine as the powerplant for the next-generation fighter jet. This collaboration goes beyond a simple supply agreement, with GE proposing a substantial 80% transfer of technology (ToT) to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Indian aerospace manufacturer leading the AMCA project.

The F-414, renowned for its reliability and performance, is set to become the engine of choice for the AMCA MkI fighter jets in the program's initial phase. The engine's 98kN thrust rating promises to provide the necessary power and agility for India's fifth-generation fighter jet. However, GE is not stopping there. The company envisions an even more powerful version of the F-414, capable of delivering up to 120kN of thrust, through the development of the Enhanced Durability Engine (EDE).

The EDE represents a revolutionary leap in engine technology, featuring a two-stage fan with a forward-swept, all-black design. This innovative design is expected to increase the pressure ratio by 10%, resulting in a 4% reduction in specific fuel consumption (SFC) and an impressive 20% boost in thrust compared to the current F-414 model.

Beyond its performance enhancements, the EDE boasts a threefold increase in component durability, ensuring greater reliability and longevity for the AMCA fleet. With thrust levels projected to reach nearly 29,000 lbs, the F-414 EDE promises to deliver unmatched performance for India's next-generation fighter aircraft.

GE's collaboration with India extends beyond the supply of the F-414 engine. The company is also exploring a partnership with the DRDO to co-develop a new engine based on the F-414 platform. This ambitious project aims to further enhance India's aerospace capabilities and self-reliance in defense manufacturing.

GE's commitment to safety and reliability is evident in its rigorous testing and validation procedures. Rig testing for the new fan design is slated to begin next year, pending approval from DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF). This comprehensive testing phase will ensure that the engine meets the stringent requirements of modern aerial combat.

 

[sanket]

Most Important thing is IPR ,Export Market & Sanction Free offer.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

US has a habit of imposing or threatening to impose sanctions due to political reasons. Any GE offer must be seen with a pinch of salt. A country like Bharat must be self dependent in designing and producing jet engines . A parallel development program of indigenous engine is essential alongwith any foreign offer .If we get some advanced technology during such collaboration ,there is no harm .

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Don't put all eggs in one basket. Incentivize and expedite desi R&D.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

the moment they know that a desi engine can fructify they will come to offer any thing to kill the competition
GE 414 EPE ( enhanced performance engine) with thrust of 28.000 lbs has already been developed 10 years ago. what they are going to do with an EDE engine with us is not known. we could have gone for this engine , though costlier to power the LCA mK2 . This requires an new designed enlarged air intake to cater to the increased mass flow.

 

[Anant]

In all seriousness, are we positively certain that two 120-ish kN (240 kN total) engines will be sufficient for aircraft for the next 40-45 years? It is below the thrust levels that aircraft like the F-22 (312 kN), Su-57 (284 kN), J-20 (290 kN), Kaan (kN), MiG 1.44 (350 kN), etc. The only 5th-ish generation aircraft that come closer in thrust are smaller aircraft like the KF-21, F-35, FC-31, etc.

 

[Anant]

the moment they know that a desi engine can fructify they will come to offer any thing to kill the competition
GE 414 EPE ( enhanced performance engine) with thrust of 28.000 lbs has already been developed 10 years ago. what they are going to do with an EDE engine with us is not known. we could have gone for this engine , though costlier to power the LCA mK2 . This requires an new designed enlarged air intake to cater to the increased mass flow.

Desi engine? Which engine, exactly?

Oh, and the foreign collaboration has been in the plan for a very long time, with potential collaboration partners being GE, RR, or Safran. Nothing out of the blue here.

 

[sumeet biswas]

the moment they know that a desi engine can fructify they will come to offer any thing to kill the competition
GE 414 EPE ( enhanced performance engine) with thrust of 28.000 lbs has already been developed 10 years ago. what they are going to do with an EDE engine with us is not known. we could have gone for this engine , though costlier to power the LCA mK2 . This requires an new designed enlarged air intake to cater to the increased mass flow.

i used to think like that too,
i used to thought that GE has introduced F404IN20 to derail out engine program but i was wrong
lets face reality now:- how you are supposed to make an engine ??
where you have no prior knowledge to even create a small aero engine?
people start from zero and get more prowess along with time
we tried to jump and we fell harder than we thought...
kaaveri became a big failure with a heavy weight and low thrust .....
metallurgy failed and spitting salt into the burn happened when SAFRAN started to mock our engines saying we will provide a new core for this engine but we will not give its knowhow .....
out engine development funds was a joke we didn't had any high altitude testing lab aircraft...

 

[Boomeranger]

In all seriousness, are we positively certain that two 120-ish kN (240 kN total) engines will be sufficient for aircraft for the next 40-45 years? It is below the thrust levels that aircraft like the F-22 (312 kN), Su-57 (284 kN), J-20 (290 kN), Kaan (kN), MiG 1.44 (350 kN), etc. The only 5th-ish generation aircraft that come closer in thrust are smaller aircraft like the KF-21, F-35, FC-31, etc.

Did F414 engines will not give supercruise for AMCA. And so, it will be only 4.5 gen! Need RR-Tempest 135 KN max. wet thrusts engines soon for AMCA program...

 

[Boomeranger]

the moment they know that a desi engine can fructify they will come to offer any thing to kill the competition
GE 414 EPE ( enhanced performance engine) with thrust of 28.000 lbs has already been developed 10 years ago. what they are going to do with an EDE engine with us is not known. we could have gone for this engine , though costlier to power the LCA mK2 . This requires an new designed enlarged air intake to cater to the increased mass flow.

ADA scientists already figured it out and said just 2-3 inches widening of air intakes is sufficient for GE-F414 engines.. Plus, the Jaguar style triple airflow push-pressure vanes on air intakes outer wall; as fielded on MK1A jets now...

 

[Sandeep]

Did F414 engines will not give supercruise for AMCA. And so, it will be only 4.5 gen! Need RR-Tempest 135 KN max. wet thrusts engines soon for AMCA program...

We have already made a deal with Safran to produce a brand new engine for the AMCA and we will get 100% of the technology and produced entirely with India.

 

[Sandeep]

In all seriousness, are we positively certain that two 120-ish kN (240 kN total) engines will be sufficient for aircraft for the next 40-45 years? It is below the thrust levels that aircraft like the F-22 (312 kN), Su-57 (284 kN), J-20 (290 kN), Kaan (kN), MiG 1.44 (350 kN), etc. The only 5th-ish generation aircraft that come closer in thrust are smaller aircraft like the KF-21, F-35, FC-31, etc.

India has made a deal with Safran to produce a brand new next generation engine which gives India 100% of the technology and produced entirely in India. Also giving out more thrust increase the IR emitted from it so being very fast is secondary to achieving stealth fighters.

 

[Sandeep]

India is going to use the F414 engine for the AMCA MK1. We have also made a deal with Safran to develop a brand new next generation engine which gives us 100% of the technology and can be manufactured entirely in India. No other country would ever make a deal like that and the important part is that we will learn more about the science, engineering and technology on how to develop a brand new engine. In future we will no longer be reliant on buying any foreign engines and technology by making us self reliant.

 

[Anand S Jha]

My choice was Su57, r37m with full tot .

 

[Manish Jha]

In all seriousness, are we positively certain that two 120-ish kN (240 kN total) engines will be sufficient for aircraft for the next 40-45 years? It is below the thrust levels that aircraft like the F-22 (312 kN), Su-57 (284 kN), J-20 (290 kN), Kaan (kN), MiG 1.44 (350 kN), etc. The only 5th-ish generation aircraft that come closer in thrust are smaller aircraft like the KF-21, F-35, FC-31, etc.

Bro, your thought process is wrong here. All the fighters you named here are the heavy to super heavy category aircraft. They required more thrust. Also, non of these engines are fully made for Indian hot and humid conditions. In Indian conditions the Western engine will loose 15 to 20% thrust. So if you will comapare all these aspects, the 120 KN engine will be more then enough for current AMCA. However, this 120KN thrust will not be future proof. That is why in the current negotiations with OEM, Govt and GTRE is clearly mentioned that the new engine for AMCA should come with additional possibility of 15 to 20%.

 

[Akshat]

My choice was Su57, r37m with full tot .

Thankfully they didn’t listen to you. 😂😂 I mean, even Russia cut down Su57’s orders by over 70%. Its a junk of a plane.

 

[Rajesh]

The 80% will not come straight away and even if all goes well then after 2030. Don't know how many blackmailing and sanction threats we have to face till then. Even if we get those promised tech what about the remaining 20% can our gtre deliver the remaining is to be seen. The one benefit which could happen is those tech can be used to develop our own 90 kn for kaveri engine replacement program for which we will have time. Anyways even a bit of tech which we don't have is a good thing but we must fast track amca engine program with an experienced partner soon .

 

[RG]

All these are good and dandy, but there is a need to have a domestic option. Money, time and energy must be spent to create a domestic infrastructure, even 1 % depended can result in Sanction and 99% technology absorbtion useless. Hope the planners understand this.

 

[Pink Panther]

Most Important thing is IPR ,Export Market & Sanction Free offer.

F21/F/A-18/F15/F35.

 

[Pink Panther]

Don't put all eggs in one basket. Incentivize and expedite desi R&D.

Yes we have put way too many eggs in French basket, time to put the eggs in different basket.

 

[Pink Panther]

Desi engine? Which engine, exactly?

Oh, and the foreign collaboration has been in the plan for a very long time, with potential collaboration partners being GE, RR, or Safran. Nothing out of the blue here.

Safran has been playing hide and seek games with us and not even ready to part their 70’s tech M88 SNECMA engine, also they don’t have any advanced engine tech to share with us, , RR is untrustworthy, so GE is the only hope for India.

 

[Pink Panther]

ADA scientists already figured it out and said just 2-3 inches widening of air intakes is sufficient for GE-F414 engines.. Plus, the Jaguar style triple airflow push-pressure vanes on air intakes outer wall; as fielded on MK1A jets now...

Actually GE engineers provided the specs to ADA to design the intake.

 

[P.K.Chaudhuri]

What are the terms and conditions of the agreement between GE and HAL. GE must transfer 100% know-how and know-why for the aero-engine. Ultimately, it must become an Indian engine. HAL must be able to export the engine globally. It must have the rights to service the engine owned by any customer globally. We need to be careful with GE.

 

[sumeet biswas]

this is a good deal and HAL should take it
the development cycle will be short as the engine already exists in real world and many of its versions has already been created, and it is not like RR and Safran's hypothetical promises of giving IP as everyone knows that no one gives any country their critical technology..... they might give you the technology but they will never show you the knowhow! and why!
its best deal currently available in my opinion and so far the best engine our jetfighter program can have tailored and suited for our platform

 

[sumeet biswas]

Don't put all eggs in one basket. Incentivize and expedite desi R&D.

GE has been a very good engine supplier to us for many decades.... it will be foolish decision to get away from this deal. plus GE is making engine tailored to our needs
RR and SAFRAN's engine is only in paper