New Delhi: In the midst of concerns regarding trade tariffs between India and the United States, progress is being made on the security front. General Electric (GE), a leading US aircraft engine manufacturer, is anticipated to deliver the first of 99 GE-404 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) this month, following a two-year contractual delay. These highly anticipated GE-404 engines are designed to power the Tejas Mark 1-A fighter jets, and the delays in their delivery have raised significant concerns within the Indian Air Force (IAF).
As reported by at least two knowledgeable officials, the initial engine is currently undergoing testing and is expected to be delivered by the end of this month. A total of 12 engines are projected to be delivered in 2025, with GE committed to supplying 20 engines annually to meet the terms of the 2021 contract, valued at USD 716 million, for 99 engines.
In parallel, HAL, despite its status as a public sector undertaking, is collaborating with GE to manufacture the more advanced GE-414 engine in India, under a technology transfer agreement established through the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) between India and US National Security Advisors. The GE-414 engine will be utilized in the advanced multi-role combat aircraft (AMCA) currently under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
In light of delays in the delivery of 83 LCA MK 1 A aircraft by HAL, which have drawn frustration from the IAF Chief, the Defence Ministry, led by Defence Secretary R. K. Singh, has formed a committee to devise a business model for the proposed fifth-generation fighter. This committee will focus on creating a framework that encourages private sector involvement in the fifth-generation program, without delving into the technical details of the AMCA. The overarching goal is to ensure that India has alternative options beyond HAL for manufacturing fighter jets to meet its future national security needs.
US President Donald Trump has proposed providing India with the established fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet. However, India is also considering the French alternative, which includes the production of Rafale fighters and the M-88 engine domestically under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
