HAL Signs Major $1 Billion Jet Engine Deal with GE Aerospace

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has concluded a 1-billion aircraft agreement with GE Aerospace of the U.S. to supply 113 F404-GE-IN20 aircraft engines to the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme of India.

The deal is made against the background of trade tensions between the U.S. and India, when Trump has introduced a 50% tariff on Indian imports. According to the officials of HAL, deliveries will begin in 2027 and will last until 2032.

It will have 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters powered by its engines on a contract valued INR 62370 crores signed with the ministry of defence in September. The Tejas Mk -1 A is a single engine multi role fighter aircraft developed to undertake air defense, maritime reconnaissance and precision strike missions.

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It has been fundamental to the Indian drive to manufacture national defence weapons indigenously, and HAL already equipped the previous Tejas variants with the same GE F404 -IN20 engines. In 2021 the Defence Ministry gave 83 Tejas Mk-1A jet an order worth INR 48000 crores, although delivery was postponed when GE Aerospace failed to meet deadlines in the supply.

The new contract ought to hasten production and bring the Tejas programme on track. The Indian Air Force (IAF) that currently has only 31 fighter squadrons out of the approved strength of 42 anticipates Tejas induction to seal its fighter gap and bring operational preparedness. Established in 1940, HAL is the leading aerospace and defense company in India, which innovates aircraft, helicopters, engines and avionics used by military and the civilian market.