Tejas Mk1A Export Prospects Brighten as GE Commits to Supply 20 F404 Engines Annually Starting FY 2026

India’s ambition to become a significant exporter of fighter aircraft has received a substantial boost following a firm commitment from US aerospace major General Electric (GE).

The company is set to supply 20 F404-IN20 engines annually starting from the 2026–27 financial year, with an initial batch of five engines scheduled for delivery before the end of March 2026.

This stabilisation of the supply chain addresses the primary bottleneck that had previously hampered both the induction of the jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF) and marketing efforts abroad.

Breaking the Supply Chain Gridlock​

The export campaign for the Tejas Mk1A—an advanced 4.5-generation light combat aircraft—had effectively been paused due to persistent delays in engine procurement.

These delays caused a knock-on effect, stalling the production schedule for the 83 jets ordered by the IAF in a ₹48,000 crore deal signed in 2021.

With the supply constraints now easing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Ministry of Defence are preparing to reinvigorate their international sales strategy.

According to defence officials, the arrival of new engines will allow HAL to resume deliveries to the IAF by March 2026. The state-run manufacturer expects to hand over five jets by July of the same year.

This resumption of strict delivery timelines is crucial for restoring confidence in the production line, a key factor for potential international clients who prioritise reliability alongside performance.

A Vote of Confidence: The 97-Jet Order​

Bolstering the programme's credibility is the recent government approval for an additional 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters, a deal valued at approximately ₹62,370 crore ($7.5 billion).

This follow-on order is widely viewed within the defence establishment as a formal endorsement of the platform's maturity.

Unlike earlier iterations, this new batch will feature significantly higher indigenous content, including the locally developed Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which replaces the Israeli ELM-2052 used in earlier batches.

The aircraft will also incorporate an advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite known as 'Swayam Raksha Kavach', updated mission computers, and seamless integration with indigenous weapons such as the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.

Ramping Up Production​

The resolution of the engine shortage has paved the way for higher production rates.

HAL has operationalised a third production line at its Nashik facility to complement its two existing lines in Bengaluru. With GE planning to increase deliveries to 24 engines annually from FY2027–28, HAL aims to scale its output to match this figure.

This expanded capacity is strategically vital. It ensures that HAL can allocate dedicated production slots for export orders without cannibalising the delivery schedule promised to the IAF.

Targeting the Global Market​

With production stability assured, India is eyeing markets in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Many air forces in these regions are looking to retire ageing fleets of Cold War-era jets, such as the MiG-21, Northrop F-5, and Chinese F-7.

The Tejas Mk1A presents itself as a modern, cost-effective replacement that offers supersonic performance and low maintenance costs.

The aircraft’s value proposition includes a glass cockpit, AESA radar capabilities, and a potent strike package, making it an attractive option for nations seeking credible air defence without the high acquisition and operating costs associated with heavyweight twin-engine fighters.

Countries such as the Philippines and Egypt have previously shown interest in the platform, and the renewed supply certainty may help advance these discussions.

With the engine pipeline secure and the domestic order book swelling to over 180 Mk1A jets, the Tejas programme is poised to transition from a developmental success to a viable contender in the global defence market.

 

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[Vivek_Singh]

Pardon my language...but what the duck is HAL doing.
Earlier they committed the delivery in 2024, then they gave an excuse of Engine and pushed it to 2025, then they confirmed the handover of 5 jets by March 26 and now it has moved to July.

I wish, I get a job in HAL, to do nothing but just much all the free snacks, coffee and food. Absolutely shameful.

Time to fire all these HAL employee immediately, with no pension whatsoever. Let them fight the jobs in pvt sector...where they will be more accountable for their responsibilities.

 

[ronin-desi]

Friend worked in HAL, HAL workers at floor asked by senior engineer to eat and sleep and have plentiful rest to work during night at their private factory run by proxy family members.
But yes life is good, same as any govt employees like School teacher, municepal corp cleaning workers etc.

 

[Ammoman]

India wants to make 24 jets a year, it gets 20 engines. How do you export when only 20 engines are available.

My take is HAL only wants 20 engines. There is no way GE wouldn't ramp up top 30 or 40. The more you produce the cheaper it costs to make. Something stinks here.

 

[Foxbat]

It would be an excellent business proposition for HAL and India. But the biggest problem is that F404 engines for Tejas Mk1A are not forthcoming in larger quantities to speed up the production. The dismal numbers of engines during the financial year 2026 - 2027 is just 20 and for the same period in 2027 - 2028 will be increased to 24. HAL would receive a total of 170 engines by financial year 2031 - 2032 and by this time it would be 6 years. This number of engines are not even enough to fulfil IAF's obligations of 180 aircrafts. I am not trying to make negative comments on HAL but the engines are delayed couple of years. But I am just wondering how HAL would cope with foreign buyers orders if there is a successful customer and at the same time meet IAF's orders.

 

[Ammoman]

It would be an excellent business proposition for HAL and India. But the biggest problem is that F404 engines for Tejas Mk1A are not forthcoming in larger quantities to speed up the production. The dismal numbers of engines during the financial year 2026 - 2027 is just 20 and for the same period in 2027 - 2028 will be increased to 24. HAL would receive a total of 170 engines by financial year 2031 - 2032 and by this time it would be 6 years. This number of engines are not even enough to fulfil IAF's obligations of 180 aircrafts. I am not trying to make negative comments on HAL but the engines are delayed couple of years. But I am just wondering how HAL would cope with foreign buyers orders if there is a successful customer and at the same time meet IAF's orders.

GE is a public company, read their SEC filings. The delivered the exact number of engines and never missed a delivery date. Indian politicians lie every day to control the natitive. HAL has never said GE was non compliant to their agreement. This is a typical PR campaign by the government, under invest and blame someone else. India is run by liars and criminals.

 

[ronin-desi]

GE is a public company, read their SEC filings. The delivered the exact number of engines and never missed a delivery date. Indian politicians lie every day to control the natitive. HAL has never said GE was non compliant to their agreement. This is a typical PR campaign by the government, under invest and blame someone else. India is run by liars and criminals.

Highly plausible as Min of Defence India terms IKEA flat pack delivery of all import as "Transfer of Technology". which is cruel criminal joke on Bharat!!

 

[Ammoman]

Highly plausible as Min of Defence India terms IKEA flat pack delivery of all import as "Transfer of Technology". which is cruel criminal joke on Bharat!!

Ronin, I wish India wasn't this way. I am of Indian heritage. I have too much experience in it. We need to be like Singapore 50 years ago, make corruption a capital offence. So much potential, the babus are crushing all FDI. If My friends who are Indians, got crushed and had to leave. How can anyone else do it. I feel bad for the poor and middle class of India. We can't even help them. Indians preying on Indians.

 

[RK30091958]

Pardon my language...but what the duck is HAL doing.
Earlier they committed the delivery in 2024, then they gave an excuse of Engine and pushed it to 2025, then they confirmed the handover of 5 jets by March 26 and now it has moved to July.

I wish, I get a job in HAL, to do nothing but just much all the free snacks, coffee and food. Absolutely shameful.

Time to fire all these HAL employee immediately, with no pension whatsoever. Let them fight the jobs in pvt sector...where they will be more accountable for their responsibilities.

Absolutely correct.Just one line to add.Pension of all retired officers of HAL should also be stopped with immediate effect for their negligence and willful acts to harm national security by not doing what was required of them to handover Tejas Mk1A fighters to IAF as per contract.

 

[Ammoman]

Absolutely correct.Just one line to add.Pension of all retired officers of HAL should also be stopped with immediate effect for their negligence and willful acts to harm national security by not doing what was required of them to handover Tejas Mk1A fighters to IAF as per contract.

Don't blame the rank and file. They just do what they are told. They know what the issues are, afraid to speak because they know what would happen to them. It's the top management and the government. They all have foreign passports. All they know if how to extort money.

 

[RamJ]

Give these projects to private companies...HAL should be only observer..

 

[Foxbat]

GE is a public company, read their SEC filings. The delivered the exact number of engines and never missed a delivery date. Indian politicians lie every day to control the natitive. HAL has never said GE was non compliant to their agreement. This is a typical PR campaign by the government, under invest and blame someone else. India is run by liars and criminals.

I am not an Indian citizen but an Indian diaspora. Though I don't live in India I am well aware of the lackadaisical attitude in HAL, the corruption level in bureaucracy and the Indian politicians mentality. For India to become a economic powerhouse like china the mindset of politicians in the ruling government needs to change their mindset to think progressively and out of the box. Protecting local industries and produce is one thing but the government should allow foreign investment to do business without the burden of notorious red tape and under the table rewards to initiate business operation. But the case of long delays in F404 engines I am not sure if you are correct but based on my reading several "Indian articles" I am with the impression that the GE delays are due to global supply chain disruption bcoz several suppliers has ceased operation, which makes sense to me. It doesn't mean that if GE is a public listed company they are not vulnerable to unexpected disruptions. I am not sure about other countries but in my country it's flooded with chinese made products from electronic to non electronic items. I am shocked to find spare parts for Volkswagen Beetles. But of course they are mostly poor quality products. There are about ten popular chinese brand automobiles doing fairly well. Take the case of chinese fighter aircrafts and bombers some with stealth coating. The quality of their military products are not proven and tested but they are perfecting it with new advanced technologies. Almost all of the fighter and bomber aircraft technologies are stolen from the western countries using several dirty tactics. The chinese are obsessed with world supremacy in military power so they will not hesitate to resort to get anything by hook or crook. In India military contractors and the government officials take several years to make smart choice decisions. I believe India has great potentials to produce highly competitive military products if there is effective and efficient management system in place.

 

[ku.nj727]

Any fool will also not believe on this article

 

[Ammoman]

Give these projects to private companies...HAL should be only observer..

Private companies don't have the expertise yet. HAL does, they need a mandate from the government to share and work with private enterprise.

 

[Ammoman]

I am not an Indian citizen but an Indian diaspora. Though I don't live in India I am well aware of the lackadaisical attitude in HAL, the corruption level in bureaucracy and the Indian politicians mentality. For India to become a economic powerhouse like china the mindset of politicians in the ruling government needs to change their mindset to think progressively and out of the box. Protecting local industries and produce is one thing but the government should allow foreign investment to do business without the burden of notorious red tape and under the table rewards to initiate business operation. But the case of long delays in F404 engines I am not sure if you are correct but based on my reading several "Indian articles" I am with the impression that the GE delays are due to global supply chain disruption bcoz several suppliers has ceased operation, which makes sense to me. It doesn't mean that if GE is a public listed company they are not vulnerable to unexpected disruptions. I am not sure about other countries but in my country it's flooded with chinese made products from electronic to non electronic items. I am shocked to find spare parts for Volkswagen Beetles. But of course they are mostly poor quality products. There are about ten popular chinese brand automobiles doing fairly well. Take the case of chinese fighter aircrafts and bombers some with stealth coating. The quality of their military products are not proven and tested but they are perfecting it with new advanced technologies. Almost all of the fighter and bomber aircraft technologies are stolen from the western countries using several dirty tactics. The chinese are obsessed with world supremacy in military power so they will not hesitate to resort to get anything by hook or crook. In India military contractors and the government officials take several years to make smart choice decisions. I believe India has great potentials to produce highly competitive military products if there is effective and efficient management system in place.

I live in Canada and was born in the UK. I am not a spring chicken. The major issue is integration of weapon packages. Its the main issue, that's why not a single jet is operational. I am not blaming HAL. Its the pr team at the MOD.

HAL just covers the delays for the government. Babus who have no idea about weapons or the military, run the show. Political appointees, sons of this politician or son of someone else. You should be a military officer to hold a position at the MOD. Most are clowns, spend all their time travelling the world at conferences, staying at 5 star hotels with an entourage of 20, Doing important things like booking top restaurants for people and sightseeing. Look at who went to Davos, what did they accomplish, why were they there other than spend millions on inflated hotel rates and so on. People can't even breathe in New Delhi. VIP culture only exists in shit hole countries. In Canada, if a politician flies first class, their is a price to pay. No one would dare waste taxpayer money.