HAL to Outsource 45% of F414 Engine Manufacturing for Tejas MkII Jet to Private Sector, Confirms New CMD

In a move to expedite indigenous production and meet the requirements for the upcoming Tejas MkII Light Combat Aircraft, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is poised to outsource nearly half of the manufacturing for the GE 414 engines to the private sector.

This was confirmed by the newly appointed chairman and managing director of HAL, DK Sunil, in an interview with ET.

Sunil revealed that India is on the cusp of finalizing a deal with the US to acquire advanced fighter jet engine technology this financial year. He also indicated that HAL expects the plant producing these engines to be operational within three years, perfectly aligning with the development timeline for the Tejas MkII, which will be powered by these locally-manufactured GE 414 engines.

Originally, the US manufacturer GE had agreed to a 56% technology transfer, but this has been significantly increased to 80%, encompassing critical technologies, after intervention from higher levels of government. A negotiation committee will soon be established to iron out the technical and commercial aspects of this deal, estimated to be valued at over $1 billion.

In a significant move towards greater private sector participation, the CMD highlighted that a substantial portion of the engine manufacturing work will be outsourced.

Several Indian companies, including MTAR Hyderabad, Indo MIM Bengaluru, L&T, Godrej, and Azad engineering, possess the specialized expertise needed for this undertaking.

Sunil elaborated that HAL's typical outsourcing model involves about 40-45% of its work, and a similar approach will be adopted for the engine manufacturing.

Furthermore, the new CMD expressed confidence that HAL's order book is set to expand significantly in the near future, fueled by the government's strong emphasis on the Make in India initiative.

He stated that the current order book stands at approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore, and pending contracts are expected to elevate this figure to ₹2.1 lakh crore within a year.

This surge in orders will encompass upcoming contracts for 97 additional LCA Mk1A aircraft, an order for 156 light combat helicopters, and several orders for Advanced Light Helicopters.

Sunil assured that these orders will ensure a steady workflow for the next five to six years. He further emphasized that projects like the LCA Mk2, Indian Multi Role Helicopter, and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft will keep HAL engaged well into the next decade.

 

[R. Singh]

Also make GE-404 engines (80% tech) here in India along with GE-414 engines ! IF US don't agree ink deal with France allowing Safran to jointly make 90+ KN , 110 Kn and 145+ KN engines for our fighter program don't put all eggs in US basket ! It is wrong to transfer Tech to pvt sector better BHEL should partner in making of GE engine !

 

[Gilbert]

Mr Singh's opinion is quite practical but our politicians don't seem to be much weary about delay in LCA and AMCA program. From the beginning, our politicians seem to have neglected development of indigenous engines for LCA and AMCA due to unknown reason. It seems that they are personally more interested in purchasing these engines and aircrafts at abnormally higher price from foreign countries. Isn't it wierd that our scientist, who are capable of developing very advanced rocket and missile engines, cannot develop high thrust Kaveri engine.

 

[Muthu.Kumar]

Why is India so obsessed with GE despite its backstabbing twice in the past and delaying at the present ?? India doesn't want upset the US at the cost of india's needs, perhaps ?

Why shouldn't it take 100% TOT offer from Safran and Rolls Royce? In fact Safran's offer is THE best with absolutely no-strings attached.

Anyways, HAL will NEVER get Kaveri indigenously to match its Western counterparts and make it the Indian answer in the global market and only will buy all the hi-end technologies.

So why not buy the best among those offered ?

 

[Foxbat]

The people in defence ministry and CCS must have the will, good knowledge of two pronged attack from the pakis and chinese. They must the urgency and wake up to realities.

 

[sanket]

Nice way to Build Eco-system For Future Aero-Engine , Only Thing is Remaining 20% Supply sould b smooth & on time

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

GE aerospace should also outsource F-404 engine TOT to Indian private sector players if they have supply chain issues.

 

[sanket]

GE aerospace should also outsource F-404 engine TOT to Indian private sector players if they have supply chain issues.

IAF wants Direct engage for components & spares with GE

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

i hope that the kaveri program moves forward quickly after this tech transfer. The only reason we didnt sign a similar deal for F404, even though we plan on making 300+ tejas mk1,1a etc. is because we plan on putting kaveri in it in future.

 

[M S ChatterjiVerified member]

Kaveri engine need technical help and this purchase and technical collaboration will help to deliver Kaveri sooner than otherwise possible.

 

[sanket]

Kaveri engine need technical help and this purchase and technical collaboration will help to deliver Kaveri sooner than otherwise possible.

what kaveri Engine want that Tech are Guarded by US , Hot core section (20%), Anyway Brahmos Aero-space is developing After burner section,After Integration & certification more Fine tuning will happen & hope it will contrbute to solve the problem, second GE will share only Know how & Not know why that means again Only 40% will b tech parted which it is claimed to b 80%

 

[PKPRS]

Some US jet is imminent as well, let’s make hundreds of Tejas MK1A and MK2’s.

 

[Akshat]

i hope that the kaveri program moves forward quickly after this tech transfer. The only reason we didnt sign a similar deal for F404, even though we plan on making 300+ tejas mk1,1a etc. is because we plan on putting kaveri in it in future.

Kaveri has been officially declared to never be used in Tejas.

 

[Sudha]

Kaveri has been officially declared to never be used in Tejas.

Really? Where did you get this story from? If it achieves the required kn, it will be used 100% in Tejas.

 

[Akshat]

Some US jet is imminent as well, let’s make hundreds of Tejas MK1A and MK2’s.

Imminent? How do? We just rejected them again last year in the naval tender. Right now it seems our forces want no foreign jet but Rafale.

 

[Taus Melek]

I will belive it when indian private companies start making the relevant parts!

 

[NSR]

That would be great news for India, IAF and its citizens.

Now HAL will have no excuses but to deliver or get its contracted shifted to Private Companies or get Privatized itself.

India must order same Machines, Tools, and Test Equipments for its Kaveri derivatives too and produce it to world standards of quality and reliability.

I pray that India learns from GE F-414INS6 and AL-31FP to get its own fighter engine get going.

 

[RK]

The real question is how much can HAL absorb the technology transfer. Is the tech talent at HAL capable of absorbing what is given and use it to build same quality engines as GE. ??

 

[PKPRS]

Imminent? How do? We just rejected them again last year in the naval tender. Right now it seems our forces want no foreign jet but Rafale.

But we didn’t buy even one extra Rafale for the last 8 years, even after Macron fell on his knees, cried, begged and pleaded to buy more Rafale's over hundred times, also tell me if some Country would offer 80% of their IPR to some other Country for free and would they tolerate GOI getting MRFA jets else where after getting 80% TOT from them.

 

[PKPRS]

That would be great news for India, IAF and its citizens.

Now HAL will have no excuses but to deliver or get its contracted shifted to Private Companies or get Privatized itself.

India must order same Machines, Tools, and Test Equipments for its Kaveri derivatives too and produce it to world standards of quality and reliability.

I pray that India learns from GE F-414INS6 and AL-31FP to get its own fighter engine get going.

and RD-33MK, before these engines HAL license built 10 other foreign engines, wonder what they learnt.

 

[Dredd]

Nice way to Build Eco-system For Future Aero-Engine , Only Thing is Remaining 20% Supply sould b smooth & on time

Only thing remaining is jet around the engine ... HAL already have 8 F414 engines with them .

 

[Dredd]

IAF wants Direct engage for components & spares with GE

Because HAL charges 30% markup over imported spares and parts.

 

[Akshat]

But we didn’t buy even one extra Rafale for the last 8 years, even after Macron fell on his knees, cried, begged and pleaded to buy more Rafale's over hundred times, also tell me if some Country would offer 80% of their IPR to some other Country for free and would they tolerate GOI getting MRFA jets else where after getting 80% TOT from them.

We are negotiating for 26 more, not just 1. But Putin begged and cried for Mig 29 and Mig 35 and Su30 and Su57 and Su75 and what not. But not even 1.

 

[PKPRS]

We are negotiating for 26 more, not just 1. But Putin begged and cried for Mig 29 and Mig 35 and Su30 and Su57 and Su75 and what not. But not even 1.

but the negotiations are not successful, there is a lot of noise about FGFA in recent times, so may be Putin must have done that only once, not more than 100 times like your master.

 

[Arvind Sharma]

HAL & Govt will wait till supply lines for even 414 is closed. Doing things in advance or say in well planned way doesn't suit us. We are a firm believer in fire fighting.

we are also masters in creating lot of hype.

 

[Sandeep]

This is the best deal that we will ever get and we will gain a lot of experience, knowledge and education in jet engine technology. We need to learn about whatever we can so that we will implement it in our own future engine programs.