GE to Retain Control Over F-414 Engine's Single Crystal Blade Casting and FADEC Software in ToT Agreement with India

GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are nearing finalization of a landmark deal for the transfer of technology (ToT) for the F-414 engine, set to be concluded later this year. This agreement will grant HAL access to nearly 80% of the ToT, facilitating local production of the engine in Bangalore.

GE Aerospace has emphasized that this ToT package surpasses any previous agreement for the F-414 engine. Notably, South Korea, utilizing the same engine for its KF-21 fighter jet, only received 59% ToT.

While the specific details of the withheld 20% remain undisclosed, it's confirmed that GE will retain the casting process for single crystal (SX) blades and the software for the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. However, HAL will acquire the technology for coating and machining these blades.

The remaining 20% of the technology will be supplied directly by GE to HAL, safeguarding their intellectual property rights. This approach balances GE's control over critical components with HAL's capability to manufacture and maintain the engine domestically.

Although India has developed indigenous capabilities for single crystal blade casting through the Kaveri engine program, the withholding of this tech isn't seen as a major obstacle. Indian companies may utilize domestically developed tech to replace the withheld components shortly, potentially achieving 100% local manufacturing of the engine.

The finalization of this deal is a significant step forward for India's defense industry. Local manufacture of the F-414 engine will reduce India's reliance on foreign suppliers, create new opportunities for domestic industries and jobs, and enhance India's capabilities in advanced engine technology, positioning the country as a major player in the global aerospace sector.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

We have made Kaveri it's not operational because it can't produce enough thrust to power the tejas so you can say we have partially succeeded in making a jet engine, if we get 80% ToT from GE F414 which is in the similar category of engine as Kaveri it might solve those problems and when the life of F404 engines and F414 engine ends they could be replaced by Kaveri. Also we decided to make a world class jet engine at the time when we didn't had any infrastructure or test facility nor any experience in making engines. In the process of making it we created the environment and an experienced set of engineers.There were many problems in Kaveri in the start most of which were solved from being overweight to vibration problems now the only problem is insufficient thrust and we did all that without any foreign help and at the fraction of cost other countries used to make engine of same category.Even safran with experience of 50 years took 13-15 years master the M88 engine for rafale.

Unfortunately in aerospace and defense there is no such thing as partial success! Its either it complies with the requirements in its totality or it does not . As simple as that, and the fact is Kaveri failed to meet the deliver the required flat rated thrust with any degree of reliability as such it cant power Tejas. End of story. All this talk of partial success, 80% thrust is pointless.

 

[Pramkumar]

Basically there is no 80% of technology Transfer, already with Kaveri we got the 100% and with AL31F we had 60%. only thing is we are getting some tested engine to be get manufactured. the socalled 80% achievement is end of the production cycle just like AL31F.

 

[Akshat]

Army didn't use it doesn't means that program is a failure... If it is any other country then they will launch a program around this engine and make it a success.... But it is our air force who rejected it t... This is the saddest part...

No, if it was any other country then either the project would have been shut down decades back, or if it was a communist or autocratic main, then all the scientists who were a part would have been prosecuted for this shoddy job. It is only our Air Force which is still funding it. That’s really the saddest part.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

No, if it was any other country then either the project would have been shut down decades back, or if it was a communist or autocratic main, then all the scientists who were a part would have been prosecuted for this shoddy job. It is only our Air Force which is still funding it. That’s really the saddest part.

Air force is not the boss of DRDO... Now a thrust to waight ratio of 6.9 and u can't use this jet engine... Really shows your intend. With this engine u can easily make a good attack fighter... U r ready to use vintage jaguar for another 20 years but u will not use this engine..... Great

 

[Sandeep]

India got a very good deal as we will receive a higher amount of technology, manufacture it entirely in India and with Indian content. Many countries including NATO countries didn’t receive such a generous and higher deal. Although it’s annoying that GE will not give the other 20% of the technology we can look to replace it by ourselves in future.

 

[Akshat]

Air force is not the boss of DRDO... Now a thrust to waight ratio of 6.9 and u can't use this jet engine... Really shows your intend. With this engine u can easily make a good attack fighter... U r ready to use vintage jaguar for another 20 years but u will not use this engine..... Great

So when it was time to blame someone, blame IAF but for credit, IAF is not in the picture? 😂😂😂

And you think TWR is the only thing that matters? You want our pilots to fly with an engine that has no reliability and can blow up in the air? Wow. You surely have no one in your family who would have ever served in any critical role in the forces, else you wouldn’t have batted to put their lives on line like this.

 

[indialion]

Both F404 & F414 local demand from US is over. After 2025 or 2027 Super hornet production over F414 production line may close. Its good GE make some money from India local production and even India also will be relieved that F414 line closure in US will not affect its usage is Tejas MK2 for 30 years. US shouldn't forget that F404 latest deal for 99 units fetched them 710 million dollars in 2021 & before that lot of money received for 75 units delivered.

 

[KARUNAKAR N V]

Were we not hearing that GE was delaying supplies to HAL. Were they are twisting through US govt.?

 

[Someshwar Singh Naryal]

Americans are never trustworthy given the track record of the US, the reading between the lines of this contract is that the deal is about 80% betrayal 20% probably on assuming to trust the US

 

[Srinivas]

We must pick up the offer and start building the engines based on GE technology. In parallel work aggressively to build the tech not just 20%, concurrently better the technology of another 30% that will come from GE. Any country that masters engine technology will have the edge in developing multiple aircraft (military and civil). It's high time we stop questioning and start doing.

 

[Koorma]

Nobody will give 100% ToT. RR was offering to develop together, but the babus cannot decide. Decision problems are harming Indian interests badly.

 

[vikrant rao]

First delays then this and you can bet the final figure of ToT will be much less as is always the case. US making another Türkiye (Turkey) out of India! This constant drip, drip, drip of pessimistic then optimistic leaks is vintage Pentagon MO.

 

[vikrant rao]

We must pick up the offer and start building the engines based on GE technology. In parallel work aggressively to build the tech not just 20%, concurrently better the technology of another 30% that will come from GE. Any country that masters engine technology will have the edge in developing multiple aircraft (military and civil). It's high time we stop questioning and start doing.

It's alright to withhold crucial tech but given India's strategic autonomy doctrine which the US opposes you can bet it will not be a reliable supplier. In that light, the Russians or French with similar ToT (or less) are a better deal purely in terms of reliability!

 

[Pr K Singh]

The actual dimension of this deal for manufacturing GE F414 locally in India is pure business. The potential of the Indian market is immense and will act as a trigger in improving the slowdown in their business. And for India developing their own engine will take more than a decade or more. So the growing threat on its borders is a continuous headache for Defence establishment of India and a good business opportunity for the General Electric and other technology giants in US.