MirageBlue
Registered Member
Forgot to mention it- Grp Cpt HV Thakur on X
HAL LCA Tejas: Updates, News & Discussions
- Thread starter indushek
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Forgot to mention it- Grp Cpt HV Thakur on X
NeptunesVortex
Registered Member
GE to deliver first of 99 F-404 engines for Tejas MK 1A by March-end
New Delhi: Amidst anxiety over India-US trade tariffs, there is forward movement on the security front, with US aircraft engine major GE expected to deliver the first of the 99 GE-404 engines to HAL this month after a contractual delay of two years. The much awaited GE-404 engines powers Tejas Mark 1-A fighters, delays in deliveries of which has caused much concern in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
According to at least two officials in knowledge of the matter, the first of the contracted engines is already on the test-bed and is expected to be delivered by end of this month. A total of 12 engines are expected in 2025 with 20 engines each expected to be delivered by GE every year to fulfill the 2021 99-engine contract worth USD 716 million.
Parallelly, the HAL, despite its Indian PSU mindset, is working with GE for manufacturing the more powerful GE-414 engine in India under transfer of technology regime worked out by iCET (initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies) between India and US National Security Advisors. The GE-414 engine will power the advanced multi-role combat aircraft (AMCA) being developed by the DRDO.
The HAL has established two production lines of LCA Tejas at Bengaluru, which can produce up to 16 aircraft per year. Further, an additional production line is being established at HAL, Nasik to take the production rate beyond 24 aircraft from 2024-25 onwards.
New Delhi: Amidst anxiety over India-US trade tariffs, there is forward movement on the security front, with US aircraft engine major GE expected to deliver the first of the 99 GE-404 engines to HAL this month after a contractual delay of two years. The much awaited GE-404 engines powers Tejas Mark 1-A fighters, delays in deliveries of which has caused much concern in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
According to at least two officials in knowledge of the matter, the first of the contracted engines is already on the test-bed and is expected to be delivered by end of this month. A total of 12 engines are expected in 2025 with 20 engines each expected to be delivered by GE every year to fulfill the 2021 99-engine contract worth USD 716 million.
Parallelly, the HAL, despite its Indian PSU mindset, is working with GE for manufacturing the more powerful GE-414 engine in India under transfer of technology regime worked out by iCET (initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies) between India and US National Security Advisors. The GE-414 engine will power the advanced multi-role combat aircraft (AMCA) being developed by the DRDO.
The HAL has established two production lines of LCA Tejas at Bengaluru, which can produce up to 16 aircraft per year. Further, an additional production line is being established at HAL, Nasik to take the production rate beyond 24 aircraft from 2024-25 onwards.
SiliconBit (silicon0000)
Trusted Member
I don't understand why HAL claims and boast it can produce 24 jets annually across its three sites, when they're only receiving 12, then 20 engines per year, including any spares. Where's the logic in that? No body ask them that simple question? Or they are smoking something really good?
Pingle
Trusted Member
Finally some breakthrough with Tejas....
Yasser76
Elite Member
You want them to now start applying logic to their claims!?
CallSignMaverick
Registered Member
Not with Astra Mk-1, but Astra Mk-2 outranges all BVRAAMs in PAF and Astra Mk-3 is more than twice the range of PL-15E afaik. But we forget range of missiles is limited by the detection range of radars, altitude and on "head-on" or "tail chase" scenarios which people don't discuss much.
Capacity and throughput are different. When engine supplies will be normal, they would be able to produce them at desired rate.
SiliconBit (silicon0000)
Trusted Member
When engine supplies will be normal,
........... Dear That "normal" is also 20 engine per year. Isn't it waste of resource to have a third line, isn't it better to keep 2 lines of 10 plane each year?
(PS: I am not in favor of reducing production lines or capacity. Rather, India should insist that GE increase its engine supply. Failure to comply will result in penalties and the pursuit of alternative engine solutions for all future projects.)
CallSignMaverick
Registered Member
GE had restarted their F404 line to supply those engines as I've heard, as it's demand had dried up and we were among few new customers for it. So it was expected there would be supply chain issues in it's productions. I don't think so F414 supply will face such issues.
halupridol
Registered Member
Note this year 2025,USA has chosen it's 6th gen fighter to be built.
We are still struggling with our 4th gen fighter for more thn 2 decades. And still the final iteration(lca mk2 ) is far away.
I Don't know why but I got a feeling that NGAD might arrive earlier thn mk2.
We are still struggling with our 4th gen fighter for more thn 2 decades. And still the final iteration(lca mk2 ) is far away.
I Don't know why but I got a feeling that NGAD might arrive earlier thn mk2.
MirageBlue
Registered Member
There will be an additional order for 97 more Tejas Mk1As coming this year. The higher production rate will help in completing airframe assemblies earlier, even if they have to wait for the engines from GE. Then the production will gradually begin to shift towards the Tejas Mk2.
OTOH, there will be negotiations with GE to increase their production line to 24 engines per year at least, given that the 97 new Tejas Mk1A will need another order for at least 120 engines.
MirageBlue
Registered Member
HAL CMD said that when their delegations visited Lynn, Massachusetts, they even went and met GE's suppliers who were having problems. A lot of GE's smaller suppliers had shut down during Covid and had lost key personnel who had died or left. It was taking them a lot of time to find new suppliers and get them certified for aerospace grade applications which are very stringent.
Its called PR, overpromise and underdeliver …
iblini
Trusted Member
They have just awarded the contract and it usually takes a decade from signing the contract till IOC.
5:15 onward.
harpy1
Trusted Member
GE Aerospace Begins Delivery of F404-IN20 Engines for India's Tejas Mk1A
12 engines will arrive in 2025.
www.defensemirror.com
This is good news
We have seen how important it is to be self sufficient in military power
Nato is moving away from USA after decades of alliance
There are no permanent friends
Either build self sufficiency which is painfully slow or multiple suppliers
Never never rely on one supplier be it USA Russia or china
No such thing as guaranteed alliance
So Tejas and Amca is must I'm delighted
Yes even two decades late
lightoftruth
Banned
After delays, GE Aerospace announces delivery of jet engines for Tejas LCA-Mk1A
Engine manufacturer General Electric (GE) Aerospace on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) announced the delivery of the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fighter jet, marking the commencement of deliveries for the delayed programme. Defence sources said that 12 engines are expected to be delivered this year.
“The first engine to power the LCA-Mk1A is currently undergoing the final round of checks on the test bed at the GE facility in Lynn. It is expected to arrive in India in April,” a defence source said adding that they are supposed to deliver 12 engines in a year. At Aero India in February, HAL Chairman and Managing Director D. K. Sunil said that 12 jets would be ready this year.
We are on track to deliver to the latest schedule we have agreed with HAL, GE Aerospace said in response to a query from The Hindu.
Speaking at an event in February, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh said that IAF needs to add 35-40 fighter jets every year to fill the shortages in numbers and that HAL has promised to produce 24 Tejas Mark-1A jets next year.
Shawn Warren, General Manager, combat & trainer engines, GE Aerospace, in a statement, attributed the delays to restarting the production line that was dormant for five years.
Recalling the earlier collaboration for the LCA-MK1 jets he said that after collaborating with the Aeronautical Development Agency in the 1980s, F404-IN20 engine was selected in 2004, The F404-IN20is a tailored design, of the F404 family, for India’s single-engine fighter with the highest thrust within F404 family and a higher-flow fan, unique single-crystal turbine blades, and numerous special components having customized it for the needs of Indian Air Force (IAF). “The F404 demonstrated it was an excellent fit for the Tejas LCA. On its first test flight in 2008, the aircraft climbed to numerous mission altitudes and achieved Mach 1.1 speed,” Mr. Warren said.
By 2016, GE Aerospace delivered 65 F404-IN20 engines for the 40 Tejas jets ordered earlier and with no additional engine orders on the horizon, the production line for F404-IN20 was shut down, the statement said. However, when HAL ordered an additional 99 engines in 2021 for the Tejas Mk1A LCA, our team began the complex task of restarting the F404-IN20 production line, which had been dormant for five years, and re-engaging the engine’s global supply chain, Mr. Warren said. “Restarting a jet engine production line is a challenging process. Restarting the F404-IN20 engine line during the COVID pandemic was even more challenging,” he said adding that they are working closely with their suppliers to ramp up production on parts and materials for the F404-IN20.
At Aero India, Mr. Sunil had asserted that GE’s supply chain issues have been resolved and the would receive 12 F-404 engines for the LCA-Mk1A this year. “The GE has stabilised its manufacturing process for the F404 engines. We have already made three aircraft, and by the end of this year, 11 will be manufactured. As the engines start coming in, our delivery to the IAF will start,” he had stated.
He also said that three Tejas Mk1A are flying and by the end of this year, one jet from Nasik and 11 from Bengaluru will be ready while stressing that the existing order for 87 LCA-Mk1A would be completed in three and a half years and the additional order for 97 jets by FY31-32 with production rate going to 24 jets per year.
Early this month, a high level empowered committee headed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh constituted to recommend ways for Capability Enhancement of the IAF identified key thrust areas and made recommendations for implementation in the short, medium and long-term in the report presented to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The IAF is currently at 31 fighter squadrons as against the sanctioned strength of 42.5 squadrons. While deliveries of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A are delayed, several of the existing fighter jets – jaguars, MIG-29UPG and Mirage-2000 – will also start phasing out by end of this decade. The bigger and more capable LCA-Mk2 is under development while the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the country’s fifth generation jet, is atleast a decade away.
After delays, GE Aerospace announces delivery of jet engines for Tejas LCA-Mk1A
GE Aerospace delivers first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL for Tejas LCA Mk 1A fighter jet.
