After a wait of two years that led to the delay in delivery of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A to the Indian Air Force (IAF), American aircraft engine supplier GE Aerospace has delivered first of the 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL.
The Rs 5,375 crore for 99 F404-GE-IN20 was placed in 2021. The company was expected to begin the delivery in March 2023. The two-year delay in the delivery of engines was attributed to supply chain disruptions.
We were excited to deliver the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to our valued customer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fight jet, GE Aerospace said, according to news agency ANI.
GE Aerospace said this is an important milestone for the company's four-decade relationship with HAL and its "efforts to ensure a strong future for India’s military by developing next-generation fighters while enhancing the country’s defence manufacturing capabilities."
The company noted that it has a strong history of military jet propulsion collaboration in India.
"After collaborating with the Aeronautical Development Agency in the 1980s, GE Aerospace’s F404-IN20 engine was selected for the single-engine Tejas in 2004. This was an important breakthrough for both India and GE Aerospace," the company further said.
The F404-IN20 engine is an upgraded variant of the F404 family, designed specifically for the Tejas aircraft, producing a maximum thrust of 19,000 lbf (85 kN) with afterburner, making it the highest thrust variant in the series. The F404-GE-IN20 incorporates GE's latest hot section materials and technologies as well as FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) for reliable power and outstanding operational characteristics.
