The way is clear for the rapid manufacturing of Tejas fighter jets in India, America has delivered the first GE engine, now China and Pakistan will get the answer

After several months of delay, American company GE Aerospace has finally handed over the engine of Tejas fighter jet to India. GE Aerospace has confirmed this by issuing a press release. GE Aerospace has said that “We were excited to deliver the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fight jet to our valued customer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This is an important milestone in our 40-year relationship with HAL and our efforts to ensure a strong future for India’s army by developing next-generation fighter aircraft while enhancing the country’s defense manufacturing capabilities.” The press release further states that “GE Aerospace has a strong history of military jet propulsion cooperation in India. After collaborating with the Aeronautical Development Agency in the 1980s, GE Aerospace’s F404-IN20 engine was selected for the single-engine Tejas in 2004. This was a significant success for both India and GE Aerospace.”

India got the engine for Tejas fighter jet

India has had to face a lot of trouble due to the delay in getting the engine for the Tejas fighter jet. Recently, Indian Air Force Chief AP Singh had also expressed his displeasure with HAL. It was believed that GE Aerospace was delaying in giving engines to India due to geo-political conditions. However, the company had repeatedly said that the engine supply was getting delayed due to problems in the supply chain. GE Aerospace has said in the press release that “Our F404 engine family is one of the most successful in military aviation history, powering thousands of fighter aircraft around the world. The F404-IN20 engine is a customized design for India’s single-engine fighter aircraft, with the highest thrust and high-flow fan in the F404 family, unique single-crystal turbine blades and many special components.”

The press release further states that “GE Aerospace and Tejas teams have worked together for many years to design it according to the needs of the Indian Air Force. The F404 demonstrated that this engine is perfect for the Tejas LCA. During flight tests in 2008, the Tejas fighter jet achieved a speed of Mach 1.1 with this engine.”

Let us tell you that HAL had ordered 99 engines for Tejas Mk1A LCA fighter aircraft in 2021. GE Aerospace has said that “By 2016, GE Aerospace had delivered 65 F404-IN20 engines to HAL for the Tejas LCA. But after that, due to no further engine orders, the production line of F404-IN20 engines was closed. But when HAL again ordered 99 engines for the Tejas Mk1A LCA in 2021, our team started the difficult task of restarting the F404-IN20 production line. This production line was closed for five years and the global supply chain also became inactive, the difficult task of restarting which was started.”