HAL Confirms F-414 Engine Deal for Tejas Mk2 Postponed to Mid-2025, But Reassures on 80% ToT, Quality and Timely Delivery

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director, Sunil Kumar, has confirmed that the highly anticipated deal with GE Aerospace for the procurement of F-414 engines for the Tejas Mk2 program has been postponed to mid-2025.

While initially expected by the end of 2024, the deal, crucial for powering India's advanced light combat aircraft, is now likely to be finalized by March 2025.

Despite the delay, Kumar reassured stakeholders that both HAL and GE Aerospace are committed to ensuring a smooth and successful conclusion to the contract. He emphasized that the focus remains on delivering high-quality engines and ensuring a seamless transfer of technology.

This agreement is a cornerstone of India's efforts to boost its domestic aerospace capabilities. The deal encompasses 99 F-414 engines, which will be manufactured locally by HAL with a significant 80% Transfer of Technology (ToT).

This ToT represents a major leap forward for India's aviation sector, enabling HAL to develop an indigenous supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for critical aerospace components.

The delay is attributed to the complexities inherent in defence contracts, regulatory processes, and ongoing negotiations to fine-tune the ToT agreement. With 80% ToT, HAL aims to achieve self-reliance in engine manufacturing and maintenance, crucial for the Tejas Mk2's service life and future upgrades.

Once the deal is signed, HAL will commence local manufacturing of the F-414 engines at its state-of-the-art facilities. The F-414 engines, known for their superior thrust and efficiency compared to the F-404 engines used in the Tejas Mk1, will significantly enhance the performance and operational capabilities of the Tejas Mk2.

This landmark deal has far-reaching implications for India's aerospace and defence ecosystem. It will bolster HAL's capabilities in manufacturing high-performance engines, providing a domestically produced, reliable propulsion system for its multirole fighter jets.

Furthermore, the technology transfer is expected to catalyze further innovation in the aviation sector as Indian engineers and technicians gain valuable experience with advanced engine systems.

 

[VedantaKiran]

This deal won't happen even in 2026..the Americans will finally deliver an engine which is lagging by a generation.

And HAL will deliver aircraft which are one generation behind since the MK1A & MK2 are not stealth. Its use will be limited and can be used more against Srilanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar since Pakistan and China are already acquiring stealth aircraft

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Whatever deals you sign with foreign companies should be looked at as short term solutions. For the long term invest in local jet and marine engine R&D and test infra. Learn from China, why wait till the time they deny engines/spares to you.

 

[sanket]

It will almost take 3 to 4 years to set up Eco-system for 80% ToT components & second challenge is to Ramping-up production rate to 16 to 24 per year aftar starting the Integration of Engine in Locally manufactred assembly line from initial production rate of 6 to 8, the same engine is Likely to used in 3 Fighter jet Tejas MK2, TEDBF & AMCA MK1

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Wrong. Once Donald becomes President in Jan, it's just matter of weeks and not months. I expect the deal to be signed by late Feb or early March as Modiji has good relations with Donaldji.

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

Don't know why HAL is still sticking only with USA. Why not make Tejas MK2 suitable for French and Russian engines also.

 

[PKPRS]

Whatever deals you sign with foreign companies should be looked at as short term solutions. For the long term invest in local jet and marine engine R&D and test infra. Learn from China, why wait till the time they deny engines/spares to you.

Just 1.5 months for 2025, a contract for MRFA jet from US will also signed by March 2025 I guess, both or conjoined twins, one won’t happen without the other, nobody gives 80% freebies.

 

[sanket]

Don't know why HAL is still sticking only with USA. Why not make Tejas MK2 suitable for French and Russian engines also.

Its IAF who have selected Engine, second GEAerospace emerge L1 Bidder for GE-414 Engine compare to Eurojet, Third French/Russia dont have similar Thrust Engine Fourth Due to South korean Firm their is delay in Engine dlivery, South korean firm manufactures some components under screw driver work. I have already said the same components Bharat should demand to Locally manufaturing under ToT & that would b shipped to GE, South korean firm is become Bankrupt.

 

[Akshat]

Just 1.5 months for 2025, a contract for MRFA jet from US will also signed by March 2025 I guess, both or conjoined twins, one won’t happen without the other, nobody gives 80% freebies.

If that was the case India wouldn’t have bought 26 more Rafales. GoI has made up its mind. Only Rafales for us.

 

[Akshat]

Don't know why HAL is still sticking only with USA. Why not make Tejas MK2 suitable for French and Russian engines also.

Because France doesn’t have a ready engine and Russia won’t give any tech (and we don’t want their engines anyways).

 

[Taus Melek]

Wrong. Once Donald becomes President in Jan, it's just matter of weeks and not months. I expect the deal to be signed by late Feb or early March as Modiji has good relations with Donaldji.

Don’t be fooled. Donald Trump is for America first. He will extract a high price for any deal, in which case India should also leverage the big deal which was signed with Boeing to supply commercial aircraft - order could be reduced or shifted to Airbus if POTUS wants to play hard ball.

 

[tipoo2]

Don't know why HAL is still sticking only with USA. Why not make Tejas MK2 suitable for French and Russian engines also.

Some of you talk about it like swapping out fighter engines is like swapping out a graphics card. Designing for French, Russian, and American engines? Is that even possible? Just swapping out to one alternate engine (except for kaveri, which was made for this) would involve new intakes, a different bay design, sweeping repercussions through the design of the structural support which would then impact the electronics, physical cooling and fuel lines and cabling...

If we think this engine is delayed, wait till you see how long it would take HAL and DRDO to redesign around another engine lol

What's done is done, the F404 was probably a poor choice almost no one else is using, there's no supply issue with the F414 and then we're on to the French Indian joint venture engine for AMCA, which we'll fully own. Just have to keep on keeping on.

 

[PKPRS]

If that was the case India wouldn’t have bought 26 more Rafales. GoI has made up its mind. Only Rafales for us.

26 Rafale’s mean’s end of Rafale(.), why would they import 26 Rafales when they will make MRFA jets in India 🤔🤨🧐🙇‍♂️💬, there is a very remote chance of buying 36 more Rafale’s 15 years later, if the backlog clears at that time.

 

[Akshat]

26 Rafale’s mean’s end of Rafale(.), why would they import 26 Rafales when they will make MRFA jets in India 🤔🤨🧐🙇‍♂️💬, there is a very remote chance of buying 36 more Rafale’s 15 years later, if the backlog clears at that time.

That’s still 26 more than F18 😂😂

 

[PKPRS]

That’s still 26 more than F18 😂😂

only 36, 26 still in AB state, price negotiations still going on endlessly, no contract signed purposely to grt better deal for MRFA.

 

[PKPRS]

That’s still 26 more than F18 😂😂

😂 as much as you can, it is a good therapy to reduce stress, but nothing is going to change.

 

[BCharlie]

Great, so next 5-7 yrs before Tejas frame restructuring, fuselage, intakes etc mods will be finalized to take F-414 engine instead of F-404;

 

[Akshat]

😂 as much as you can, it is a good therapy to reduce stress, but nothing is going to change.

Indeed, nothing is going to change the fact that India chose Rafale twice in the last decade while it rejected US and Russian planes 😂😂

 

[Akshat]

only 36, 26 still in AB state, price negotiations still going on endlessly, no contract signed purposely to grt better deal for MRFA.

At least negotiations are going on with them. They kicked Migs in MRCA and now kicked F18 in the navy deal

 

[PKPRS]

At least negotiations are going on with them. They kicked Migs in MRCA and now kicked F18 in the navy deal

Who cares about MIGS or F/A-18, Rafale-M is not purchased (.)

 

[PKPRS]

Indeed, nothing is going to change the fact that India chose Rafale twice in the last decade while it rejected US and Russian planes 😂😂

Indeed twice AB1 = A$$ Burn winner during price negotiations.

 

[subrat beura]

Buy some F15EX for filling out the shortage & invest on merging Kaveri with M-88 core to get alternative of GE engine

 

[Sammy]

This deal won't happen even in 2026..the Americans will finally deliver an engine which is lagging by a generation.

And HAL will deliver aircraft which are one generation behind since the MK1A & MK2 are not stealth. Its use will be limited and can be used more against Srilanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar since Pakistan and China are already acquiring stealth aircraft

Yes we cannot trust someone who also wants to upgrade F16 for Pakistan.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to finalise the deal and sign the contracts as soon as possible. We critically need it to power the Tejas MK2 and 2 squadrons of AMCA jets which is already delayed for years.

We need to increase the number of squadrons and the Tejas MK2 is the ideal jet as it can carry more weapons and has superior capabilities than Tejas MK1A. India should order more Tejas MK2 jets than another 100 Tejas MK1A despite it being good for defence mainly and to intercept any threats.

 

[uday]

By the time HAL recieves these engines, they will have become obsolete

 

[beencensured]

Indeed, nothing is going to change the fact that India chose Rafale twice in the last decade while it rejected US and Russian planes 😂😂

India has built some more su30mki too. India knows to modify Russian planes unlike French.

 

[Pad UwU]

Sounds like Tejas mk1a and mk2 needs structural changes to fit GE f414🧐🤔 more delays I believe.... Plus AMCA is still a pipe dream

 

[NSR]

Middle of 2025 means that the first engine will be ready in middle of 2028.

India, IAF and HAL must request GE to fulfill 99 GE F-414INS6 engine delivery through original contract 2 per month so that HAL can use them in Tejas Mk II, TEDBF, and AMCA MK I fifth generation fighter development, integration and flight testing to take them to productions.

Do not make the same mistake with it as HAL did with GE F-404IN20.

 

[kunitesh]

First Nov end and then March- 2025..in all probability this will further stretch..relying on American engine will impact Tejas program significantly..time to really put all might we have to build our own fighter engine

 

[Akshat]

India has built some more su30mki too. India knows to modify Russian planes unlike French.

Only older orders were completed. No new orders in the last decade. And even after making 272 Su30, HAL chief said we don’t even know what the indigenous content for the latest batch of 12 planes will be, only Russia can decide that. That’s how much control we have.