LCA Tejas Mk1A production update: HAL gets second GE-404 engine, more to come soon

In what comes as a major boost to India's efforts to ramp up the production and supply of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, the US-based General Electric Company (GE) delivered the second GE-404 engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

 

According to news agency ANI, HAL is expected to receive 12 GE-404 engines by early 2026. A few days ago, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar had said GE would be increasing the deliveries to two engines per month until March 2026. This is under the $716 million contract India signed with GE in 2021 for the supply of 99 F404-IN20 afterburning turbofan engines.

 

The delivery of these engines was delayed owing to various reasons, including supply chain disruptions.

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The GE F404 family of engines powers a broad spectrum of aircraft with missions ranging from low-level subsonic attack to high-altitude interception.

 

An advanced variant of the Tejas LCA Mk1A, the Tejas Mk1A features an advanced mission computer, a high-performance Digital Flight Control Computer, Smart Multi-Function Displays, an Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, an Advanced Self-Protection Jammer, and an Electronic Warfare Suite.

 

Citing defence ministry sources, the news agency said the Indian Air Force (IAF) has already placed orders for 83 LCA Mk1A fighter jets, and a proposal to buy 97 more is at an advanced stage after the defence ministry clearance.

Defence