Indian Air Force (IAF) LCA Tejas performs an aerobatic display during the Aero India 2023 air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 13, 2023.
Credit: Reuters Photo
New Delhi: Production of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk-1A is yet to pick up speed as engine supplier General Electric has missed its schedule of delivering two F-404 engines in August, even as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has built ten of these advanced jets so far, defence sources said.
Following a series of meetings between the US and Indian officials that took place in the last few days, the US major has promised to supply 3-5 engines by October, but fingers are crossed at the Indian end.
GE has supplied two engines so far: the first one in March followed by another in July. The delivery began after a year of delay, impacting the production of the home-grown fighter jets that would replace the ageing MiG-21s in the Indian Air Force.
The last two squadrons of MiG-21s will retire this month leaving the IAF with just 29 fighter squadrons – its lowest strength in six decades.
Asked to comment on the delay, a GE spokesperson said, “We are tracking to the latest schedule we have shared with HAL.”
Sources said HAL has readied two single-engine Tejas Mk-1A with the GE engines that have come so far and weapon trials are going on. One of the fighter jets is at HAL’s brand new Nashik factory from where it is likely to be handed over to the IAF within the next couple of months.
These engines are required for the Rs 45,000 crore deal that the Defence Ministry had signed in 2021 with HAL to supply 83 LCA Tejas Mk-1A to the IAF.
In a parallel track commercial negotiations are also going on with GE for the supply of more powerful F-414 engines that will lie at the core of the next generation combat aircraft like Tejas LCA-Mk-2 and fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
An Indian delegation is likely to visit the USA later this month for F-414 discussions with GE as two parties are looking at the possibility of closing the deal in 2026.
With the Union Cabinet approving 97 additional Tejas LCA Mk-1A, the Indian aviation major would be needing more F-404 engines, but their supply will start after completing the delivery of the engines for the 82 fighter jets.
HAL officials said they hoped to complete the delivery of 180 aircraft by 2031-32 if the engine supply is steady and continuous.
In the past GE supplied 65 F-404 engines as per a previous order that was completed by 2016 after which the production line was shut. The current delay, according to the company, is due to the problems associated with restarting the production line after HAL ordered an additional 99 engines in 2021.