India Receives GE-F404 Engine for LCA Tejas Mark1A

 India Receives GE-F404 Engine for LCA Tejas Mark1A

India has successfully received the second GE-F404 engine from the United States. This engine is slated for integration with the LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, marking a significant step in a broader agreement aimed at bolstering India's indigenous combat aircraft program.

Key Details

India received the second GE-F404 engine.

The engine was supplied by the United States.

It is intended for integration with the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A fighter jets.

This delivery is part of a larger deal to enhance India's indigenous combat aircraft program, specifically for the Tejas Mk1A variant.

Indigenous Defence Production

The LCA Tejas program is a cornerstone of India's efforts towards self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in defense manufacturing, showcasing a commitment to building advanced fighter jets domestically since the 1980s.

The integration of foreign engines like the GE-F404, while a temporary measure, facilitates the continued development and operationalization of indigenous platforms.

Deliveries of the second GE-F404 engine around mid-July 2025 are part of a $716 million agreement (2021) for 99 engines for Tejas Mk1A, with GE pledging two engines per month until March 2026 to help HAL achieve its production goals of 12 jets in 2025 and 16-24 jets annually thereafter.

Aero-Engine Technology

The acquisition of advanced engines like the GE-F404 and the upcoming GE-F414 provides critical insights and experience in aero-engine technology and integration.

This experience directly contributes to understanding complex aspects of engine design, performance, and maintenance, accelerating the learning curve for India's own engine programs like the Kaveri engine.

India-U.S. Defence Ties

The delivery of GE engines for Tejas signifies strengthening defense cooperation between India and the United States, including technology transfer and strategic partnerships, reflecting deepening trust and shared strategic interests.

This is a precursor to the larger GE-414 engine deal for the Tejas Mk2 and AMCA programs, involving an 80% transfer of technology under a June 2023 MoU between HAL and General Electric, with commercial negotiations aiming for March 2025 finalization and deliveries within three years for these next-generation aircraft.

About LCA Tejas:

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is India's indigenous single-engine, multirole light fighter, developed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by(HAL) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, designed for both the IAF and Indian Navy since the 1980s.

The Mk1A variant, ordered in 2021 (83 aircraft), features improved avionics, AESA radar, and aerial refuelling, with deliveries planned between 2024-2028.

A second batch of 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters is expected to be ordered by the IAF next year, bringing the total to 137 Mk1A jets, with production for this batch slated to begin in early 2028 and completed by 2032.

About GE-F404 Engine:

The GE-F404 is a reliable afterburning turbofan engine by General Electric (U.S.), used globally and in early Tejas (Mk1) versions. 

The Tejas Mk1A uses the custom F404-GE-IN20 variant (19,000 lbf thrust), with 99 engines ordered in 2021; deliveries resumed around mid-July 2025, with two engines expected per month until March 2026.

The restoration of the GE-F404 supply chain and HAL's reinforced vendor network are projected to ensure seamless integration and enhanced program resilience, helping HAL meet its increased production target of 24 jets annually.

About GE-F414 Engine:

The GE-F414 is a more powerful, advanced variant by General Electric, slated for the LCA Tejas Mk2 and future Indian combat aircraft.

A June 2023 MoU involves co-production in India with an 80% technology transfer, with commercial negotiations expected to finalize by March 2025, and deliveries anticipated within three years of the deal.

Indigenous Combat Aircraft Program

This program represents India's effort to design, develop, and manufacture its own fighter jets, aiming for self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and a robust domestic aerospace industry.

Key initiatives include the LCA Tejas and the upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a planned fifth-generation stealth fighter approved in March 2024, with prototypes aimed for 2035.

India's domestic defense production surged to 1.27 lakh crore (approximately $15.2 billion USD) in FY 2023-24, a 174% increase since 2014-15, with 65% of defense equipment now manufactured within India, and exports reaching a record 21,083 crore ($2.5 billion USD) in FY 2023-24.

Future Developments

The Tejas Mk2 is envisioned as a 4.5-generation medium-weight fighter with a more powerful engine (GE-F414), increased payload capacity, and higher indigenization (70% vs. 62% in Mk1A), with prototypes anticipated by 2027.

The Naval LCA Tejas is being developed as a twin-engine carrier-borne fighter (TEDBF Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter) to operate from India's aircraft carriers, building upon the lessons learned from the single-engine naval Tejas prototypes.