India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is pressing U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for a swift resolution to the delays surrounding the delivery of GE F404-IN20 engines. These engines are critical for powering the Tejas Mk-1 and Mk-1A variants of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft. The appeal was made during a bilateral meeting on Tuesday, as highlighted by The Print.
The delayed delivery, which has extended beyond two years, poses a significant challenge for the production timelines of the Tejas jets, developed through a collaboration between the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Singh emphasized the urgency of this matter, stating that the engine delivery ranks as a critical issue that requires immediate attention.
The GE F404-IN20 engine, produced by General Electric, is pivotal to India’s air force modernization efforts as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which aims to bolster self-reliance in defense production. The lightweight, single-engine Tejas fighter aircraft plays a vital role in this strategy.
The setbacks in production have directly impacted HAL’s capacity to fulfill its order of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets, part of a ₹48,000 crore contract established in 2021. With additional orders anticipated, the Indian Air Force is particularly focused on addressing the gaps in its aging fleet. The timely incorporation of the Tejas aircraft is viewed as essential to enhancing the IAF’s operational capabilities in the face of increasing regional security challenges.
