In a major development that would sharply improve the fighter aircraft availability of the Indian Air Force (IAF) by reducing dependence on overseas repair facilities and cutting turnaround times for engine reparis, American aircraft engine supplier GE Aerospace has signed a contract with IAF on Monday to establish an in-country repair and overhaul depot for the F404-IN20 engines powering the HAL's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fleet.
The facility will be set up by the IAF with GE Aerospace offering technical inputs. The depot facility will be owned, operated, and maintained by the IAF, with GE Aerospace offering technical inputs, training, support staff, and the supply of necessary spares and specialised equipment, the company said in a statement.
The year-round readiness of F404-IN20 engines is critical to the battle preparedness of the Tejas Mk1 aircraft, and delays in maintenance cycles can impact fleet availability. Setting up the repair and overhaul capabilities at home will help in reducing logistical bottlenecks, particularly during global conflict scenarios.
"Our commitment to supporting India’s armed forces continues to guide our collaboration and partnership in expanding local sustainment capabilities of the Tejas fleet," Rita Flaherty, vice president of Sales and Business Development for Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace said in a statement, adding, "Through the upcoming depot facility, we will support the availability of the F404-IN20 engines for the Indian Air Force, ensuring they have ready access to cutting-edge technology to power their defense needs.”
Beyond immediate operational benefits, the development is also strategically important as it strengthens India’s push for indigenous sustainment capabilities under Atmanirbharta through skill development, supply chain integration, and technical know-how transfer.
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GE Aerospace said the collaboration marks the next step in the four-decade-long partnership between GE Aerospace and the IAF.
GE Aerospace has had a presence in India for over 40 years. The company currently supports multiple platforms across the Indian armed forces, including engines for the Navy’s P-8I aircraft, MH-60R helicopters, and the Air Force’s Apache helicopters, as well as marine gas turbines powering frontline warships.