GE, HAL sign MoU for manufacture of jet engines in India; U.S. Congress approval awaited

Amid the ongoing U.S. visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, engine manufacturer GE Aerospace on June 22 announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

Amid the ongoing U.S. visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, engine manufacturer GE Aerospace on June 22 announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

“The agreement includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India, and GE Aerospace continues to work with the U.S. government to receive the necessary export authorization for this. The effort is part of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) LCA Mk2 programme,” a statement from GE Aerospace said. “Today’s agreement will advance GE Aerospace’s earlier commitment to build 99 engines for the IAF as part of the LCA Mk2 programme.”

Further, GE noted that this puts the company in a strong position to create a family of products in India, including the F404 engine that currently powers the LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk1A aircraft and GE Aerospace’s selection for the “prototype development, testing and certification of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme with our F414-INS6 engine.” In addition, GE will continue to collaborate with Indian government on the AMCA Mk2 engine program, it stated.

The LCA MK1 and MK1A, 83 of which are on order, are powered by the F404 engine while the LCA-MK2 will be a larger and more capable jet will be powered by the F414 engine, which approved by the Us Congress the would be jointly manufactured in India.

Terming it a historic agreement, H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace said, “Our F414 engines are unmatched and will offer important economic and national security benefits for both countries as we help our customers produce the highest quality engines to meet the needs of their military fleet.”

In 1986, GE began working with the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL with its F404 engines for the LCA programme. “In total, 75 F404 engines have been delivered and another 99 are on order for LCA Mk1A. Eight F414 engines have been delivered as part of an ongoing development program for LCA Mk2,” GE stated.

With more than five million flight hours and eight nations with F414-powered aircraft in operation or on order, the F414 continues to exceed goals for reliability and time on wing. To date, more than 1,600 F414 engines have been delivered globally.