India and US to Finalize F-414 Engine Co-Production Deal for Tejas Mk2 and AMCA by March 2026, Confirms HAL Chief as ToT Negotiations Concluded

India is set to finalize a landmark agreement with United States defence giant GE Aerospace by March 2026 to co-produce the powerful F-414 jet engine, a critical step that will propel the nation's indigenous fighter aircraft programs.

The head of Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), D.K. Sunil, confirmed that the complex negotiations over technology transfer have been successfully concluded.

The agreement, initially announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the U.S. in June 2023, is now moving to the final commercial stages.

Mr. Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, stated that with the crucial discussions on the transfer of advanced technology complete, both parties are focused on sealing the commercial aspects of the deal within the current financial year.

The deal involves an unprecedented 80% Transfer of Technology (ToT), which will significantly boost India's domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.

This collaboration represents a major milestone in the India-U.S. strategic partnership, as Washington has historically maintained stringent controls over its high-end military technologies.

The GE F-414 engine is a proven, high-performance powerplant used in advanced fighter jets globally, including the US Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Sweden’s Gripen, and Australia's EA-18G Growler.

Its production in India will provide a massive impetus to the nation's goal of self-reliance ('Aatmanirbharta') in defence.

The engines are slated to power India’s next generation of combat aircraft.

Specifically, they will be integrated into the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 2, a more formidable version of the indigenous Tejas fighter. The F-414 engine, which generates 98 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust, will equip the Tejas Mk2 with a more powerful engine, superior load-carrying capacity, and advanced electronic warfare systems.

Furthermore, the F-414 engines will be used for the initial prototypes of India's most ambitious aerospace project, the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The AMCA is being developed as a medium-weight, deep penetration stealth fighter, designed to feature advanced capabilities such as supercruise and a low radar cross-section.

The successful integration and domestic production of the F-414 engine are considered fundamental to the timelines and success of both the Tejas Mk2 and the futuristic AMCA program, securing the future of Indian air power.

 

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[Vishwanath Vijay Thomre]

There seems to be a wide gap of ideas, situational awareness, conflict of interest between DRDO and HAL who are at present the sole IAF providers. HAL has categorically cited the reluctance of GE support for engine supply which has hampered Tejas project. DRDO in particularly Mr. Sunil looks to be overly obsessed with GE engines. Lot of engine suppliers from France, UK, Russia and Japan have shown interest in engine development and some are offering 100% ToT but DRDO seems to be somehow not willing to process the offers and want to be fooled by the GE.

 

[Gladiator_Riyal]

Seeing these news for technology transfer is great and all that but let's get this straight as per my conclusion, I think this may be a part of India and US deal as we haven't bought f-35 but buying f-414, I think is somewhere india is trying to keep good relations with US. How did I came to this conclusion is as the news came that Trump's gonna drop a economic buster bomb on the the trioka. Seeing the sudden news of a deal between govt of India and GE. Now let me give you some backstory on India US relations. There was a statement of trump/their ministry that "India is trying very hard for a deal on sanctions". Which in fact sounded like US isn't trying very hard for a deal which made the ministry and the people of India very angry on the arrogant behaviour. Which may have damaged the deal. Iam also attaching a text for comparison of the f-414 engine for better understanding. There is also a thing that f-414 is not very good for stealth and I also think that it is a very short term goal. And also I have we focus more on Long term goals (makeing engines ourselves) As per my opinion.

 

[AJS]

He wants till March 2025 just to negotiate the deal with GE! Living in a world of their own, with no urgency or accountability. Besides there is no guarantee GE will deliver anything. The way things are going it is difficult to rely on US respecting its own word. Need for a better approach.

 

[Madan]

Why this man wants to sign the deal in Mar 26 only? Is that Muhharat or what? If everything is settled, then why wait for Mar? Deal which was settled in 2023, still waiting for Muhharat. Why this man is obsessed with US engines when already lot of difficulties are being faced for F404. HAL is living in its own world oblivious to the world realities. He seems to be wearing American goggles.

 

[Imaxxx]

March 2026 is almost a year away. Where is the urgency? If it was the private sector, negotiations would have have been multiple times faster and engines would have been here already.
And 80%? Are we ordering the 20% more in number? In case of delays or sanctions in wartime.

 

[vyoma]

HAL is clueless as to how to support DRDO nor knows how to deliver to ask. They are struggling a lot.

 

[Rajeshmg]

This looks like a sheer nonsense that HAL even after issues with GE and US, who are giving a hard time for engine delivery and this is going for last almost 2 years. Still they are crying for specifically GE engine. Looks like a controversy and questionable, is there anything ???. Because our country is struggling with the aircraft fleet and is HCL playing with Nation on something else ???. There are other countries manufacturing engines then why only GE & US. US government cannot and should never be trusted. Smelling fishy. Hope they don't even think of making same mistake with MK2 engine.

 

[V K Singh]

We should also collaborate with other companies for development of 6th generstion fighter aircraft engine, so that full know how of fighter engine is available in India. Should go for 100% TOT agreements or collaboration.

 

[Vishwanath Vijay Thomre]

This looks like a sheer nonsense that HAL even after issues with GE and US, who are giving a hard time for engine delivery and this is going for last almost 2 years. Still they are crying for specifically GE engine. Looks like a controversy and questionable, is there anything ???. Because our country is struggling with the aircraft fleet and is HCL playing with Nation on something else ???. There are other countries manufacturing engines then why only GE & US. US government cannot and should never be trusted. Smelling fishy. Hope they don't even think of making same mistake with MK2 engine.

Something fishy everything is looking fishy, too much reliance on ADA, HAL and DRDO look they are governmental or semi governmental organization. We cannot expect fast approach from their end as they have team which is lazy and know to work on slow pace to hell with Nation interest. Every project they announce has time frame of 5 years to have prototype then further 5 years to execute. Well every thing is glory and we are bosting but ground reality is much more grey. We have not increased our squadrons from past 50 years. The need in 70's 80's was of 42 still in 21st century we have only 31 that to 4th and 4.5th gen with no complete control for modernization. Why Raphael M deal at so high cost when there will be no complete control on it, this itself shows fishy nature of deal. Depleting at rapid pace of IAF squadrons and no concrete decisions to replenish it at war front level shows our commitment towards defense. During Op Sindoor IAF chief has said that God was with us during combat operations, so now God will only be able to save us in this tricky global situation.

 

[defence director]

If they can deliver then that's that but I'd still say we should explore more opportunities like the IHI xf9 and our deal with safran for the upgraded versions of m88 for the tejas mk2 , 98kn is good but amca needs something that crosses 100kn without pressure . A 5th generation jet cannot have afterburners as it compromises stealth. AMCA needs to supercruise at mach 1.8-2.0 which is highly unlikely if they use f-414 . But hey , who am i to judge , they know what they're doing much more than i do.

 

[Prem Jain]

All these happening are only on paper and nothing has happened on the ground. Americans have only violated agreements and have never kept it promptly. Only if we get the engines, we can say we got it. Instead of wasting time we should explore other viable options from Safron, RollsRoyce or Japanese offer. The immediate solution to tide over the depletion of squadrons is to go for off the shelf purchases of SU 57 from Russia. If their offer and product is good, we should go for it. We are wasting lot of time and HAL is very cool to announce the date as March 26. It’s 10 months away. Then also GE will have some lame excuses and prolong it further. We should have a very practical approach for this problem.

 

[Vishwanath Vijay Thomre]

All these happening are only on paper and nothing has happened on the ground. Americans have only violated agreements and have never kept it promptly. Only if we get the engines, we can say we got it. Instead of wasting time we should explore other viable options from Safron, RollsRoyce or Japanese offer. The immediate solution to tide over the depletion of squadrons is to go for off the shelf purchases of SU 57 from Russia. If their offer and product is good, we should go for it. We are wasting lot of time and HAL is very cool to announce the date as March 26. It’s 10 months away. Then also GE will have some lame excuses and prolong it further. We should have a very practical approach for this problem.

SU57 with all the great offer on table is under as usual deep long sleep long discussion with GOI, MoD and IAF. Even God do not know how long the discussion will last. Well a very good and strong chance is that SU57 apart from all the good and excellent offers will not be processed only because of Daddy Trump and his whip of sanctions. We are anticipating some falsely good deal break from Daddy Trump (as usual big mouth announcement) so to achieve this small bite of cake piece from Daddy Trump we wont be able to cross the line of our limits. Let us enjoy our 4th, 4.5th so called with no indigenous control capability, remotely operatable Tejas 1 & 2, AMCA (a big question mark) jets.