HAL Considers Reserved F404 Engines to Power the Initial Tejas Mk-1A Batch amid GE Delays

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) acquisition of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A has encountered another setback due to delays in engine deliveries from General Electric (GE). Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the aircraft's manufacturer, is now preparing to install used engines as a temporary solution, casting further doubt on the November delivery timeline.

A defence official revealed, "Not a single engine has been received so far. They are now expected to be delivered from September onwards." To mitigate the delay, HAL, in collaboration with the IAF, has devised a plan to equip the initial batch of LCA-Mk1A jets with Category-2, or used, engines until the new GE F-404 engines arrive.

The Defence Ministry signed a ₹48,000 crore deal with HAL for 83 LCA-Mk1A fighters in February 2021, followed by a $716 million contract with GE Aviation for 99 F404 engines in August 2021. The original delivery schedule stipulated three LCA-Mk1A jets by February 2024, with 16 aircraft per year for the following five years.

GE Aerospace acknowledged the "unprecedented supply chain pressures" plaguing the aerospace industry and assured that they are working with HAL and suppliers to resolve constraints and deliver the F404-IN20 engines as soon as possible.

While manufacturing of the jets is ongoing at HAL, the engine delay remains the primary obstacle. Officials remain optimistic that a small batch of jets can be delivered swiftly once a sufficient number of engines are received, with a revised goal of delivering at least one LCA-Mk1A by year-end and eight to nine jets by the end of the fiscal year.

The delay is a cause for concern for the IAF, as the LCA is slated to form a significant portion of its fleet in the coming decades. The LCA-Mk1A is crucial for arresting the decline in fighter squadron strength and subsequently increasing it.

In addition to the 83 Mk1A aircraft on order, the Defence Ministry has granted preliminary approval for the procurement of another 97 LCA-Mk1A, bringing the total to 180 Mk1A jets alongside 220 jets of the Mk1 variant. The combined cost of the 180 Mk1As is estimated at ₹1.15 lakh crore.

Furthermore, a larger and more capable LCA-Mk2, powered by GE F-414 engines, is under development. A deal to license manufacture the F-414 engines in India is in its final stages, with the IAF committing to procuring around 120 LCA-Mk2 aircraft.

 

[sanket]

GE production less than 15 Engines at the moment, deal was signed in 2021 for 99 F404-GE-IN20 valued $ 716 Mn hasnt delivered any new unit till date of July 2024. That the current situation of Established players Aero-Engine Giant . Developed Country USA.This is how they do Business. even after well developed Eco-system.

 

[GMR]

If supply to India is not priority for GE, it must be dropped from the talks for AMCA & MKII engines immediately and must be told so in very clear language..

 

[sanket]

If supply to India is not priority for GE, it must be dropped from the talks for AMCA & MKII engines immediately and must be told so in very clear language..

Exactly penalty should b imposed on GE & Black listed.

 

[Pramkumar]

Better Hal to try to integrate the Kaveri engine fly the Tejas now

 

[Harsh]

For all you Amreeki maal lovers. Russia is not the only one that does not deliver products on time. When the time comes, even our bosom buddies and strategic partners can give you the shaft.

 

[Shubham Sharma]

Brothers that's why all the critical component should be made in house.

had babus and mudi ji continued the funding of kaveri then we would not be in this mess right now.

this engine delay by GE is most likely intentional.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Better Hal to try to integrate the Kaveri engine fly the Tejas now

They will have to refine it more. Our half hearted attempts wont take it far.

 

[NSR]

I wrote many times about getting a license to produce them in India as IAF wants many fighters and HAL wants to export them too.
Every fighter needs two to three engines over its lifetime so India needs at least 600 or so GE F-404 engines.

Actually, USA needs thousands of GE F-404 engines for its own Fighter Trainer T7A Redhawk.
USA will prioritize its own USAF project.

So get a license and manufacture them in India ASAP.

 

[shrey]

It seems the indigenous jet can't fly without an engine but the gov. forgot about the engine and declared Tejas an indigenous success story this is what we got after nearly 40 years in development.

 

[Akshat]

Better Hal to try to integrate the Kaveri engine fly the Tejas now

Kaveri is a failure. It won’t work as long as GTRE is involved.

 

[SanPar]

One thing which does not make sense is why engine delivery delays a plane which is already undergoing flight trials. Are they grounding the planes? on anticipation of delay?

 

[Akshat]

Typical HAL modus operandi. Start delivering unnamed source based articles via different channels whenever you are close to a deadline so that no one questions their performance.

Forget the first batch of mk1a. Why are the trainers from the original batch delayed? Why is the first plane delayed? Where are all those?

 

[De_SECULARISED]

God knows whether issues are with HAL or GE. IAF should make its message clear to both of them.
It's good if GE agrees to ramp up engine production Or ask MoD &GoI to start talks with RR for their aero engine offer with strict specific time frame for development, certification & delivery, as we can see SAFRAN no saint either.

 

[Prodyut]

Brothers that's why all the critical component should be made in house.

had babus and mudi ji continued the funding of kaveri then we would not be in this mess right now.

this engine delay by GE is most likely intentional.

Funds is not the problem- teh ambitious Arunachalam transferred a moribund but low cost and harmless organization into an important and nodal organization with its grubby finders in many pies. Allegedly he was also an US agent. Whatever may be the unknown truth his only measurable contribution was he practically disenfranchised the existing design competence- otherwise responsible for teh ALH- 300+ built and 300,000 hrs flight- from fighter design. The only solution is to close down organizations like ADA - teh AMCA will go exactly teh same way and bring in the private sector becaus efunds provided are mor than adequaate - it is the Babu Scientist who lead teh organizations as clerks rather than engineers who are being clever.

 

[madmax]

Nothing new....typical American arm twisting....

 

[Mango]

Just wondering if it is possible for HAL to go with a different engine (from GE or from a different vendor)which is more readily available. Will the time spent on integrating and testing that new engine be more or less than the delay we are expecting now in F404 deliveries?

 

[Sommyarup Roy]

I smell intentional sabotage by ge.

 

[Bharat007]

India should have gone with the French engines. US is acting untrustworthy and bickering over Modi's visit to Russia. Especially, words spoken by US leader like "there is no middle ground in the conflict" needs careful observation.

This delay is intentional. May be due to India's ties with Russia. US want India to severe or limit as much as possible due to ongoing clash in Ukraine. US will go into any extreme to achieve it. So, they are keeping all options available. Even Khalistanis are being used as collateral by them.

 

[Bharat007]

Brothers that's why all the critical component should be made in house.

had babus and mudi ji continued the funding of kaveri then we would not be in this mess right now.

this engine delay by GE is most likely intentional.

I also agree. It might be intentionally delayed to pressure India on it's ties with Russia
US is well known such blackmail.