No Alternate Engine Available for Tejas Mk1A as Kaveri Engine Still Facing Delays

India's ambitious Tejas Mk1A program is facing potential setbacks due to the ongoing delays in the supply of F404 engines from GE Aerospace. These delays, stemming from supply chain constraints, are predicted to push back the delivery of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) by 10-12 months.

A critical concern lies in the lack of a readily available alternative engine for the Tejas Mk1A. The aircraft was specifically designed around the F404 engine, and other options are either not feasible or years away from being ready. India's indigenous Kaveri engine, though promising, faces its own set of delays and won't be production-ready for another 5-6 years. Meanwhile, the RD-33 engine, once considered a fallback option, is no longer viable.

Despite the engine supply hiccups, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will continue manufacturing the Tejas Mk1A at its current pace. This strategy aims to ensure the jets are ready for immediate delivery once the F404 engines become available again. GE Aerospace has stated it is working with HAL to address the supply chain bottlenecks and has set a target of September 2024 for resuming engine deliveries.

These delays are likely to have a cascading effect on the Indian Air Force's (IAF) plans for inducting the Tejas Mk1A. The IAF is actively looking to expand its fighter squadrons, and the Tejas Mk1A plays a crucial role in this strategic plan. Any delay in the aircraft's delivery could potentially impact the IAF's operational preparedness.

 

[Akshat]

Kaveri program what really did we spend on kaveri?? Just few millions!!
when Ge is not able to supply engine on time everyone remember kaveri!!
Kaveri program is just merely technology demonstration for now!!
Naah I am talking about Tejas mk1 when options are wide open for IAF to select which one when kaveri is not able to roof itself!!
IAF considered Safran M-88 and Ej-200 and Ge-404!!

Nopes. IAF never considered EJ 200. In fact, EJ 200 first flew late 1991. Design of Tejas was already finalized by then and first TD was rolled out in 1995. So even if an offer was made, of which there is no evidence, then it couldn't have been seriously considered anyways.

The exact amount spent on Kaveri is irrelevant. What matters is that GoI paid whatever GTRE asked for. In fact, GTRE couldn't even finish it. So as long as we are talking about a GTRE led Kaveri, more than enough funds were spent and any more couldn't have changed the outcome. If you are saying that we should have thrown GTRE out and tried with more funds, that can still be a valid argument.

As for GE, well, HAL is yet to even supply all the trainers for which engines are delivered. First Mk1A, which has it's engines delivered as well, has not yet completed it's flight trials. So again, GE not supplying enough engines is just a hog wash. HAL is only trying to shift the blames.

 

[Akshat]

Source? May be from your French brain?

Is it operational? Or is your socialist brain hallucinating?

 

[Devasahayam]

Perhaps India should go with Super Sukhoi upgrade with the new and powerful AL-41-1F-1C fighter engine and use this on a derivative of Tejas IA if it fits and definitely on Tejas Mk 2.

AL-41 engine is readily available and also there is already infrastructure to manufacture AL-31 which can help to absorb new engine TOT if Russia transfers.

Or go with ERJ-2000 engine which will go through too many sanctions by even two bit countries in Europe.

Not many better options left.

AL-31 and AL-41 are way too big for Tejas -- you could as well have stated M-53 (engine for Mirage-2000)...

 

[kumar]

Even after such big fiasco from US suppliers, our armed forces still rely on US weapons. Our armed forces don't learn from past, they are not learning from present and they sure will not learn in future. Until we indegenize and our armed forces transition from buyers force to builders force there is no true independent India and our foreign policy will always be subjected to whims and fancies of foreign countries. Indegenization is the only answer. For now IN should junk GE engines for warships and instead go for RR engines with full tot and production line in India. This will start applying pressure on GE and US. Then start discussions for ej200 tot and production in India and feasibility of integration into tejas. This will apply more pressure on GE.

 

[Sudha]

74kn after burning kaveri engine is good enough for tejas as ge engines do not much better and 90 kn after burning Kaveri is good enough for AMCA.

🤣😂😄😆😅😀😃😄 Best joke I have heard today. A novice determining how much power is needed for which plane.

 

[Sudha]

Is it operational? Or is your socialist brain hallucinating?

Kaveri is underpowered for modern fighters. Let Bharat forge or godrej analyse it to upgrade the core.

 

[Sudha]

thoguh the defaulter is GE American chamchas here are ready to jump on HAL.

What non sense! It was a wrong decision by HAL to go for an aero engine for which the production line was closed. There will be a huge issue of supply lines. Blaming OEM for this faux pass of HAL is hilarious. Off course another aspect is the unreliability of the US government which is incapable of having long term holistic view of its own interest.

 

[Sudha]

Indian intellectuals expect high-tech products when substandard output of the educational institutions lines up for peon jobs everywhere with the PhD degrees

WOW!! What a low view you have of yourself as an Indian. Do not forget ISRO, BDL, BEML, BEL,.... are also efficient DPSUs. So you think they reached there by getting educated in foreign nations?

 

[Sudha]

HAL can Integrate Airframes But what about Engines.............??? GE should have started Ramping up production once they signed the deal in 2021 (Three years ago) Production is depended on Orders IAF wants another 97 Tejas MK1A. There is good Business For GE. Its up too GE how they deal it now. wait & see september 2024 deadline From Last 10 months they are Giving new deadlines add one more to that.Testing Time for Indo-US Defence partnership.a very hard Time India is passing Through.

GE has become like HAL, pushing deadlines into unknown time in future (or just following the political instructions). "Sahavasa dosham". BTW why did HAL short list an aero engine the production line for which was shutdown?

 

[Sudha]

SK FA50 jet getting same GE404 engine on time. From where this engine coming from any idea? recently KA50 got export orders too. you meant they have got this engines before giving orders?

Already mentioned political reasons are also there. But what I said about HAL is also true, need better decision makers.

 

[Sudha]

Nopes. IAF never considered EJ 200. In fact, EJ 200 first flew late 1991. Design of Tejas was already finalized by then and first TD was rolled out in 1995. So even if an offer was made, of which there is no evidence, then it couldn't have been seriously considered anyways.

The exact amount spent on Kaveri is irrelevant. What matters is that GoI paid whatever GTRE asked for. In fact, GTRE couldn't even finish it. So as long as we are talking about a GTRE led Kaveri, more than enough funds were spent and any more couldn't have changed the outcome. If you are saying that we should have thrown GTRE out and tried with more funds, that can still be a valid argument.

As for GE, well, HAL is yet to even supply all the trainers for which engines are delivered. First Mk1A, which has it's engines delivered as well, has not yet completed it's flight trials. So again, GE not supplying enough engines is just a hog wash. HAL is only trying to shift the blames.

GTRE has done a fairly good job on Kaveri, but what kaveri really needs is private sector involvement since meritious employees are sitting in private sector. Now don't go on to link merit with reservations. Very illogical of you for linking it like that.

 

[Sudha]

More lies. Kaveri was receiving funds at least till 2016. This is officially on record.

Like always, spreading lies and rumors to defend the inept and useless so-called-scientists of DRDO. Typical DRDO apologist.

Do not think too much. Aero engines requires huge amount on R&D. China spent billions on R&D.

 

[Sudha]

Many times people blame HAL for not delivering product/Jet on time but they don't know HAL is only integrator of Tejas component. Many component manufacturing has outsourced to private companies. If any of them delay the supply then final product will also get delay. This article mentioned one of the reason of delay in program. Frequent changes in requirement is another reason. I am not saying HAL is perfect in timeline but there are many reasons and we should not blame only to HAL. Atleast for now no private company is coming forward to invest in fighter jet program. AMCA is good example of this.

They have to provide for the delays for they aren't screw driving for the first time. For god sake they are doing it for 70+ years & still not learnt their lessons.

 

[PKPRS]

Before blaming GE, why don't you ask where are the trainers themselves which should have been delivered a long way back? Where is the first Mk1A, for which engines are present? So engine is still not the critical bottleneck. HAL is.

ask this question to IAF who asked for last minute changes when it was about to be delivered.

 

[Dagger]

GOI first allot enough funds ,and timely release of funds.
MOD will give clearances for tech spares imports and grant permission as war foot basis. That would be a better solution.
anybody know the induction of staff process in deffence industries. They are very tuff screening mechanism is there they performed earlier, and performing now also.
Government policy paralysis is main delay for amca since2019 designs aproval taken this much years.
kavrri engine tested and certified by safron in 2019 but flight trails stopped, nobody knows the reason
this is the things those creating delays

kindly link the claims you made here, also kindly explain the induction of staff process in defence industries since you know so much.

 

[Ajath Shri]

Good. No additional confusion to already existing confusions.

 

[Puneet]

AMCA should be powered by a non American engine.

 

[sandy 007]

yes i said it september 2024 is new deadline and all pic would b clear by then.But even well established having decades of experience cant deliver engines on Times, India should take this seriously while selecting Foreign Partner for development of AMCA Engine.that will Impact Timelines of Stealth Fighter AMCA too.

We bought GE 404 engine because it was cheap but not costly but we wanted to buy RR EJ 200 Engine it was costly during the bidding and it lost to GE 404, Secondly what is wrong if GE and America doing lots of Arms twisting if we buy EJ 200. Cut short the deal and ask RR EJ200 to supply the engine let American cry we don't need their engine Till date they have not supplied a single engine of GE404 it is better to cancel the deal to be frank and precise. Why we are delaying everything. It is not yet delayed let the American do the arms twisting we have option then we must use it , it is high time we must take the decision and cancel the deal with the immediate effect.If things are delaying let it happen for one more year ask RR to supply the engine as early a possible and after all EJ wants the engine deal and DRDO engineers also visited RR manufacturing facilities also.

 

[sandy 007]

HAL can Integrate Airframes But what about Engines.............??? GE should have started Ramping up production once they signed the deal in 2021 (Three years ago) Production is depended on Orders IAF wants another 97 Tejas MK1A. There is good Business For GE. Its up too GE how they deal it now. wait & see september 2024 deadline From Last 10 months they are Giving new deadlines add one more to that.Testing Time for Indo-US Defence partnership.a very hard Time India is passing Through.

American think that they will supply only If they win the MRFA tender but let cut it short they are showing teeth because they lost to Rafael marine fighters aircrafts , Boeing will again push back US government for not supplying the GE engine on time in future also if they loose tender of MRFA which means again there will be a delay mind it HAL will again the face the tuning again in future. Remember my words these things are not happening like this only. HAL is facing the delays because American are loosing tender in indian market,It is better for us we have time we must ask RR to supply EJ200 engie.