How Turkey's Order of 100 F404 Engines Could Boost India's Tejas Mk1A Deliveries

Turkey's recent move to procure 100 F404 engines for its Hurjet light fighter jet has significant implications for India's Tejas Mk1A program.

As both aircraft rely on the same engine family, the increased demand from Turkey could potentially expedite GE Aerospace's production expansion, ultimately benefiting India by ensuring a more steady supply of F404 engines for its Tejas fleet.

India's Tejas Mk1A program has been facing delays partly due to challenges in securing its share of F404 engines amidst a global surge in demand. While the Tejas Mk1A's F404-GE-IN20 variant is the highest thrust model in the family, the overall increase in F404 orders creates pressure on GE Aerospace's production capacity.

However, the Turkish order, along with other international demands like the T-7A Red Hawk and continued Korean T-50 orders, is driving GE Aerospace to ramp up F404 production. This renewed interest in the F404 engine family, once nearing obsolescence, presents a silver lining for India.

As GE Aerospace expands its capacity to meet global demand, India could see a more reliable supply of engines for its Tejas Mk1A program, potentially accelerating deliveries and bolstering its air force capabilities.

The F404 engine's resurgence highlights its enduring value for light fighter and trainer aircraft. While the US Navy has shifted to the more powerful F414 for its Super Hornets, the F404's proven performance, reliability, and adaptability make it a compelling choice for nations developing indigenous combat platforms like Turkey and India.

In conclusion, while Turkey's F404 order might initially seem like added competition for India, it could ultimately prove beneficial by stimulating GE Aerospace's production expansion. This, in turn, could streamline the supply of F404 engines to India, enabling faster Tejas Mk1A deliveries and strengthening the Indian Air Force

The F404 engine's revival underscores its continued relevance in the global aerospace landscape, offering a potential win-win scenario for both Turkey and India as GE Aerospace scales up to meet the growing demand.

 

[swatkats_razor]

Now time to give someone else a fresh start.

Someone who?
Have any names?

 

[Akshat]

Someone who?
Have any names?

If you have to ask me for a name, then your concept of open market competition is wrong. Have an open tender and choose. This ‘nomination’ process is what we have to get rid of and you are trying to make me a part of that same flawed system by asking me for the names.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

GoI should provide funds to GTRE for research and development of kavery 2 it's necessary to continue fund this project for success, stop wasting money for freebies .

Kaveri is ~6-8% short of required thrust. With testing infra and single crystal tech created it should achieve 85KN. Not even 300 million USD was spent on the whole project. Globally to develop similar engines ~2 billion USD is the estimate. We have the brains, need to pursue things more vigorously. Have to create an ecosystem for fighter jets. Encourage pvt and public sector to start with small jet engines of 10KN, 25KN then reward and encourage them to progress to 50, 75, 100 and 100+ KN. HAL is pursuing 25 KN engine on its own, let govt ask it to develop it soon and declare a good reward for it. The talent pool and ecosystem will create wonders. Tejas Mk2 and AMCA programs are helping us upgrade MKIs ourselves.

 

[Akshat]

Our entire light aircraft fighter program is at the mercy of the Americans. Some officials were bribed heavily to do so. The Americans are not that stupid. They have effectively stymied our entire production line of 200 Tejas. And now they will offer us lollipops of technology engine transfer if we buy their fighters n drones. Even if we buy their drones they will still stymied our production line to 2037. And forget tech transfer. Neither they or the French are going to do so.

It wasn’t any official’s decision. GoI had given blank check funding to GTRE to make Kaveri with F404 only being used for prototypes. But GTRE failed and we were forced to use F404.

 

[linus52]

Turkey being NATO member will get preferential treatment and India's wait will be longer. Finish development of Kaveri

 

[linus52]

It wasn’t any official’s decision. GoI had given blank check funding to GTRE to make Kaveri with F404 only being used for prototypes. But GTRE failed and we were forced to use F404.

Excuses but no progress China 40+ yrs ahead of us baboos don't care as long as samosas and tea freely supplied

 

[TejasVikrant]

I think we should scrap all programs. We always delay in taking decision. If USA is delaying the F 404 engines why we aren't opting out for other alternative. Why delay? The government is very lethargic it's unable to take quick decision

This govt is anything but lethargic.Not just big projects that steal press coverage but innumerable defence related projects have been fulfilled cause of & during this govt. A little pat on back, a little gratitude is on order. 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

 

[Swati Deore]

There's is nothing to learn from Turkey.

You think so ? Well Kaan is a 5th gen fighter jet came out in 2024. But India's AMCA project is nowhere near it will finish till 2030. That's what we have to learn from türkiye.

 

[VedantaKiran]

What a load of rubbish is this news article

For starters, the Turkish Hurjet using GE F404 engine which is different from the Tejas MK1A GE F404-IN20 due to some customisation for the Indian Tejas.

So to say the Turkish order will help GE accelerate supplying the engines for the Tejas MK1A is such a misleading story...utter nonsense.

 

[Avatar]

We must learn from Turkey, it's doing wonders in defense manufacturing

Really?