GE Aerospace made an announcement today regarding the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. It is a significant achievement, especially during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state visit to the United States. This partnership plays a vital role in strengthening defense cooperation between the two nations.
The agreement encompasses jointly producing GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India. GE Aerospace is actively working with the U.S. government to secure the necessary export authorization for this endeavor. The collaboration is part of the Indian Air Force’s TEJAS MK-2 program.
H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace, expressed his satisfaction with this historic agreement, which was made possible due to the long-standing partnership with India and HAL. He emphasized the role of GE Aerospace in advancing the vision of closer coordination between the United States and India, as envisioned by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi. The F414 engines developed by GE Aerospace are unparalleled and will bring significant economic and national security benefits to both countries. The engines are designed to meet the highest quality standards, catering to the needs of the military fleet.
GE Aerospace has been actively engaged in India’s aerospace industry for over four decades. Their involvement spans across various domains, including engines, avionics, services, engineering, manufacturing, and local sourcing. Apart from potential new opportunities in India, several U.S. facilities currently supporting the F414 engine will witness increased volume following this announcement.
The collaboration between GE and HAL began in 1986 when they started working with the Aeronautical Development Agency to support the development of India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) using F404 engines. Since then, GE Aerospace’s F404 and F414 engines have been integral to the development and production programs of TEJAS MK-1 and TEJAS MK-2. To date, 75 F404 engines have been delivered, and an additional 99 are on order for TEJAS MK-1A. Furthermore, as part of an ongoing development program for TEJAS MK-2, eight F414 engines have already been delivered.
This agreement serves as a continuation of GE Aerospace’s previous commitment to manufacture 99 engines for the Indian Air Force under the TEJAS MK-2 program. It positions the company favorably to develop a range of products in India, including the F404 engine that currently powers the TEJAS MK-1 and TEJAS MK-1A aircraft. Moreover, GE Aerospace has been selected for the prototype development, testing, and certification of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program using their F414-INS6 engine. Additionally, GE will maintain collaboration with the Indian government for the AMCA MK-2 engine program.
With an impressive track record of over five million flight hours and operational or pending orders from eight nations, the F414 engines have consistently exceeded reliability and time-on-wing targets. Globally, more than 1,600 F414 engines have been delivered to date.
GE has a notable presence in India, including its research and technology center, the John F Welch Technology Centre in Bangalore, established in 2000. Additionally, the Multi-modal Factory in Pune, operational since 2015, further reinforces GE’s commitment to the Indian market.