India-US Discussions On Jet Engine Tech To Boost LCA, Boeing

The India-US move to take forward discussions on jet engine technology will benefit India’s home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Boeing’s bid to manufacture F/A-18 fighter aircraft in India.

“We have decided to take forward discussions under Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) more aggressively on key areas such as Jet Engine technology. We also agreed to expand DTTI by introducing new and more ambitious projects for mutual collaboration. Both of us noted the strong complementarities between DTTI and the Make in India initiative,” India’s Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said in a joint statement along with his US counterpart, Ashton Carter who is on a three-day visit to IndiaTuesday.

The DTTI move will boost the manufacture of General Electric F414 engine meant for India’s LCA, 'Tejas' globally. The same engine also fits in Boeing’s F/A-18 fighter aircraft. The move will act as a major advantage for Boeing as it is negotiating manufacture of the fighter aircraft under the ‘Make in India’ program.

Boeing is pitching F/A-18 aircraft manufacture in India even as New Delhi’s negotiations with Paris to purchase 36 Dassault Rafale aircraft drag on.