HAL Gets Fresh GE Engine as Tejas Mk-1A Production Picks Up Pace

New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received another GE F404-IN20 engine from US-based GE Aerospace, providing a significant boost to the production of the Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), according to sources.

The newly delivered engine is the seventh F404-IN20 received by HAL and comes after months of delays that had slowed the fighter jet programme. With engine supplies resuming, HAL is expected to speed up the assembly of Tejas Mk-1A aircraft, several of which have already been built and are awaiting engine installation before they can undergo flight trials and enter service with the IAF.

The F404-IN20 engine powers both the Tejas Mk-1 and the upgraded Mk-1A variants. Delays in deliveries from GE Aerospace had become the biggest hurdle in HAL's production schedule and had also affected the Indian Air Force's fleet modernisation plans.

The IAF has already placed an order worth around Rs 48,000 crore for 83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft. A follow-up order for 97 more jets has taken the total planned fleet to 180 aircraft. To support the programme, GE Aerospace has committed to supplying 24 to 26 F404 engines every year from 2026.

HAL has also expanded its production infrastructure by setting up multiple assembly lines in Bengaluru and Nashik. If engine deliveries remain on schedule, the company is expected to begin handing over the first batch of Tejas Mk-1A fighters by the end of 2026.

Earlier, the sixth engine supplied by GE Aerospace was cleared for operational use after a technical issue detected during HAL's testing was resolved. Engineers from GE Aerospace rectified the problem, following which HAL completed its verification process and certified the engine as fit for service.

Separately, India has formally approached France with a Letter of Request for the purchase of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force in a deal estimated at around $31 billion. The proposed acquisition is aimed at strengthening the IAF's combat capabilities and addressing its declining squadron strength.

With inputs from IANS