India set to finalise General Electric deal for LCA Mark 1A engines

Soon after the government cleared the ₹62,000-crore order for 97 additional LCA Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets, India is close to finalising a deal worth about $1 billion with U.S. firm General Electric (GE) for 113 GE-404 engines to power the indigenous aircraft.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has already contracted 99 GE-404 engines for the first batch of 83 LCAs. The fresh procurement will meet the requirement for the next 97 fighters, ensuring continuity in supplies and avoiding production delays, officials said. The deal is expected to be sealed by September.

With the new order, HAL’s total requirement of 212 GE-404 engines will be met. GE is expected to ramp up deliveries to two engines a month. HAL plans to deliver the first 83 fighters by 2029-30 and the next 97 by 2033-34.

In parallel, HAL is negotiating a larger deal for 200 GE-414 engines, required for the LCA Mark 2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Valued at around $1.5 billion, the agreement is expected to include 80% transfer of technology. About 162 engines will be for LCA Mark 2 fighters, while 10 will power AMCA prototypes.

The expanded LCA programme is intended to replace the IAF’s retiring MiG-21 fleet and boost indigenisation by generating work for defence MSMEs. India is also pursuing an indigenous fighter engine project in partnership with French firm Safran, as part of its drive towards self-reliance in defence. These engines will power AMCA fighter jets.