India received a second GE-404 engine from the United States for its ambitious Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A program, leading to significant boost to the indigenous fighter jet project. These advanced engines are being given to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which has been tasked to integrate them in LCA Mark 1A Jet. According to defense officials, HAL is preparing to get 12 and GE-404 engines by March 2026. These engines will provide strength to LCA Mark 1A fighter jet. In particular, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has already placed strong orders for 83 LCA Mark 1A aircraft. Apart from this, the proposal to buy 97 and jets is now in an advanced stage of processing, which has already been approved by the Ministry of Defense.
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The first engine will be distributed in early 2024
Earlier this year, the GE Aerospace distributed the first engine from the 99 F404-N20 engines to the HAL for the light fighter aircraft MK 1A fighter aircraft. HAL is planning to integrate these engines with Mark1A fighter jets and provide more than 10 of these aircraft to the Indian Air Force. Recently, Prime Minister Principal Secretary PK Mishra visited HAL facilities in Bangalore and received the LCA Mark 2 project with the Mark 1A program. The LCA Mark 2 project is expected to replace fleet of Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MiG-29 aircraft, which is growing around 2035. India is expected to make more than 400 indigenous LCA aircraft with the US GE engine variants over the next 10 years.
Agreement in 2021
In 2021, India signed a $ 716 million agreement with General Electric to buy a 99 F404-Indian engine to provide strength to Tejas MK1A fighter aircraft. However, due to the global supply chain problems, which also included obstacles received from a South Korean component supplier, the delivery program disrupted, causing delay in the original time-limit. As per the revised plan, the entire delivery of engines is now targeted till March 2026. The Indian Air Force has designed a adventure roadmap for the Tejas fleet, which plans to include a total of 352 aircraft, which will include both MK1A and MK2 versions.