GE Aerospace Begins Delivery of F404-IN20 Engines for India's Tejas Mk1A

GE Aerospace has begun delivering 99 F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A, with the first engine handed over on March 25.

The deliveries come after a delay of over two years due to global supply chain disruptions. Under the revised schedule, 12 engines will arrive in 2025, followed by annual deliveries of 20 engines. This timeline will enable the Indian Air Force (IAF) to operationalize its first Tejas Mk1A squadrons by the end of the year, addressing a shortfall in its combat fleet.

The $716 million contract for these engines, signed in 2021, is part of a larger INR48,000 crore ($6.5B) deal for 83 Tejas Mk1A jets. The fleet—comprising 73 single-seat fighters and 10 twin-seat trainers—will replace ageing MiG-21 aircraft. The Tejas Mk1A features latest avionics, mid-air refueling capabilities, and an AESA radar.

GE Aerospace has a long history of collaboration with India, supplying F404 engines for the Tejas program since 2004. The company restarted F404-IN20 production after a five-year pause, overcoming challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Looking ahead, the Tejas Mk1A fleet will eventually transition to more powerful GE-414 engines for the LCA Mk II variant, to be produced in India under an 80% Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement.