India to Receive 113 Tejas Mark-1A Jet Engines from the US

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a major agreement with US defense company GE Aerospace to procure 113 jet engines for its Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program. This deal comes amid recent trade tensions between India and the US following a 50% import duty imposed by the US on Indian products.

According to officials, the supply of F404 GE-IN20 engines will begin in 2027 and continue until 2032. The estimated value of the contract is around USD 1 billion (₹8,870 crore). HAL announced that the engines and associated support packages will power 97 Tejas Mark-1A aircraft under the Indian Air Force’s upcoming fleet expansion program.

Ministry of Defence Signed ₹62,370 Crore Deal with HAL

In September, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a ₹62,370 crore deal with HAL to procure 97 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The Tejas is a single-engine, multi-role light combat aircraft designed for high-threat air missions. It is capable of performing air defense, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions with advanced avionics and weapon systems.

HAL Already Using GE F404 Engines in the First Batch

HAL is already using GE F404 engines in the first batch of LCA Mk-1A aircraft. The Defence Ministry had previously signed a ₹48,000 crore contract with HAL in February 2021 for earlier production and induction phases of the Tejas aircraft.

This new collaboration between HAL and GE Aerospace strengthens the strategic defense partnership between India and the United States, promoting indigenous manufacturing and technology transfer for future Tejas variants.