India signs deal with GE for LCA engines
HAL signed a $716 million contract with GE Aviation for 99 F404-GE-IN20 engines for the Tejas fighter. (Gordon Arthur)
India will import GE engines for upcoming LCA Mk1A fighters, but still plans to domestically assemble them for the Mk2.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a $716 million contract with GE Aviation on 17 August for 99 F404-GE-IN20 engines and support services to power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A.
This is a turnaround from a selection made 11 years ago for 99 higher-thrust F414-GE-INS6 engines to power the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Mk2 version of the LCA.
Repeated delays getting the Mk2 off the ground led the IAF to order 83 Mk1A fighters in the interim. This will keep HAL’s factories busy until the Mk2 version emerges and fill gaps in the IAF inventory. Next year, HAL will deliver ten
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![NATO’s GlobalEye selection reflects a move towards greater European defence autonomy]()
NATO’s GlobalEye selection reflects a move towards greater European defence autonomy
The joint acquisition of Saab’s GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft by 11 allies marks the end of NATO’s more than four-decade reliance on a US-built airborne early warning platform.
-
![NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase]()
NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase
The proposed drone acquisition is intended to form part of a distributed structure of surveillance capabilities, complementing systems such as the RQ-4D Global Hawks already acquired by NATO.
-
![US Air Force lays the groundwork to move the F-15EX acquisition to lots 7 and 8]()
US Air Force lays the groundwork to move the F-15EX acquisition to lots 7 and 8
Procurement of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for future production lots signals the air force's commitment to an expanded 267-aircraft Eagle II fleet while sustaining full electronic warfare capability on every fighter.
