GE Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force.
The deal, announced on Thursday, June 22, 2023, will see India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 engine fitted with GE Aerospace’s F414 engine.
The agreement includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India. GE Aerospace is continuing to work with the United States (US) government to receive the necessary export authorization for this.
The deal has been announced while India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making an official visit to the US, as the two countries look to strengthen defense cooperation.
“This is a historic agreement made possible by our longstanding partnership with India and HAL,” said H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., chairman and CEO of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace. “We are proud to play a role in advancing President Biden and Prime Minister Modi’s vision of closer coordination between the two nations. Our F414 engines are unmatched and will offer important economic and national security benefits for both countries as we help our customers produce the highest quality engines to meet the needs of their military fleet.”
In addition to potentially generating new work in India, a number of US facilities that currently support work on the F414 engine will see additional volume as a result of today’s announcement.
Back in 1986, GE began working with the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL to support the development of India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with F404 engines.
Subsequently GE Aerospace’s F404 and F414 have been part of the development and production programs of LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk2.
In total, 75 F404 engines have been delivered and another 99 are on order for LCA Mk1A.
Eight F414 engines have been delivered as part of an ongoing development program for LCA Mk2.
The latest agreement will advance GE Aerospace’s earlier commitment to build 99 engines for the Indian Air Force as part of the LCA Mk2 program.
To date, more than 1,600 F414 engines have been delivered globally.