HAL Receives Fourth GE F404 Engine For Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jet As IAF induction Nears

US defence major GE Aerospace handed over the fourth F404-IN20 engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Wednesday (1 October), fulfilling part of a 2021 procurement order, Economic Times reported.

The newly delivered engine will power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, set to join the Indian Air Force fleet soon.

Earlier, HAL had received the third F404 engine on 11 September.

The company expects to take delivery of 12 engines by the end of the current financial year.

The Indian Air Force has ordered 83 LCA Mk1A jets from HAL, with an additional order for 97 aircraft placed recently.

A $716 million deal was signed with GE Aerospace in 2021 to acquire 99 F404-IN20 engines.

However, global supply chain issues, including the failure of a South Korean component supplier, delayed deliveries, pushing the schedule to March 2025.

The Indian Air Force aims to induct 352 Tejas aircraft across Mk1A and Mk2 versions.

HAL is on track to meet its delivery targets for this year.

Engine supplies are expected to stabilise from the next fiscal year.

By 2026–27, HAL projects full-scale production of 30 Tejas jets annually, with collaboration from public and private sector partners.

In a recent interview with the Indian Express, HAL Chairman and Managing Director D K Sunil described the General Electric (GE) F404 engines powering the LCA Mk 1A as “wonderful” and “reliable”, adding that the ongoing tariff strains with the US have had “absolutely no impact” on defence discussions.

He said HAL’s negotiations with GE on transfer of technology for the F414 engines, intended for the LCA Mk 2, were proceeding cautiously to avoid confusion later.

Asked about the delay of over a year in beginning deliveries of the initial 83 aircraft, Sunil said HAL had already built and tested 10 fighters, with more in readiness, and insisted that execution was not an issue.

He pointed to capacity expansion through a third assembly line in Nashik and a fourth in partnership with the private sector.

The challenge, he said, lies with the supply chain, citing past experience when GE shut down its F404 engine line due to lack of orders.

Sunil explained that continuous orders sustain global interest.

The latest order includes 113 F404 engines, worth over $1 billion, and GE is closely monitoring the programme.

HAL expects GE to deliver 12 engines by March 2026, enabling the delivery of 12 aircraft within this financial year.

"Since the airframes are ready and tested, it’s just about the integration of engines. We are looking at the delivery of 12 aircraft by the end of this financial year," he added.

On the LCA Mk 2, Sunil said the aircraft is scheduled to fly by early 2027, with production expected by 2030-31 after certification.

The Mk 1A will integrate indigenous ASTRA and MBDA’s ASRAAM missiles, while the Mk 2 will feature the GE F414 engine, Uttam Radar, and indigenous electronic warfare systems.

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Also Read: HAL To Deliver 12 Tejas Mk 1A Fighter Jets To IAF By End Of FY26