GE Aerospace to ship 4 engines for Tejas LCA

U.S. engine manufacturer General Electric (GE) Aerospace on October 7 announced the shipment of four F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk 1A.

With the shipment of the four engines, GE Aerospace has sent seven F404-IN20 engines in the last two months. GE Aerospace has to deliver 99 such engines to HAL, and the latter has received 10 engines so far apart from the latest shipment.

IAF’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. The engines from GE Aerospace are meant for the Tejas LCA Mk 1A aircraft.
| Photo Credit:
Murali Kumar K

“GE Aerospace shipped four F404–IN20 engines in September, 2026. We remain focused on delivering the engines needed to power India’s Tejas indigenous fighter jets. We are proud to partner with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Indian Air Force,” said an GE Aerospace Spokesperson.

HAL currently has 25 Tejas airframes ready and is waiting for the engines from the U.S engine manufacturer.

There has been a delay in the delivery schedule of engines for the LCA Mk-1A variant, which has, in turn, affected the aircraft delivery from HAL to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Deal with HAL

In February, 2021, the Defence Ministry had signed a ₹48,000-crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF.

As per the contract, HAL will manufacture 73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 Trainer aircraft. The delivery of all 83 aircraft was to be completed in eight years from the date of signing the contract.

“HAL will be delivering the first three aircraft in the third year, and 16 aircraft per year for subsequent five years,” the Ministry had said in 2021.

Delay under scrutiny

However HAL has so far not delivered a single LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft to the IAF. The delay in the induction of the fighter jet into the IAF has come under scrutiny of the country’s defence establishment.

Last week Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said that the delays in the induction of the LCA Tejas Mk-1A is hurting the air force due to the depleting strength of its fighter squadrons.

Realistic timeline

Defence Minister Rajanath Singh during his visit to Bengaluru last month called for realistic project timelines to address the delays in the ongoing technical projects. “Delays can create gaps in meeting critical defence requirements, lead to cost escalations and increase the risk of technology obsolescence,” Mr. Singh had said during the handover ceremony of various military and civil rotary wing aviation along with pilot training platforms developed by the HAL.