The engines will power the Indian Air Force's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas
Marking a groundbreaking phase in Indo-US defence cooperation, GE Aerospace has announced that it has teamed up with India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to make fighter jet engines in India.

The agreement, announced on Thursday (June 22, 2023) during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States, paves the way for the potential joint production of GE Aerospace's F414 engines, meant to power the Indian Air Force's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk2, in India. The company is already supplying the F404 engines for LCA Tejas Mk1 fighters.

GE Aerospace continues to work with the US government to receive the necessary export authorization for this, the company said in a statement announcing the agreement.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace H Lawrence Culp, Jr, hailed the agreement as a historic milestone. "This is a historic agreement made possible by our longstanding partnership with India and HAL," he said. "We are proud to play a role in advancing President Biden and Prime Minister Modi’s vision of closer coordination between the two nations," he added.

The announcement came soon after a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and GE Aerospace CRO Culp. "PM @narendramodi held productive discussions with CEO of @generalelectric, H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. They discussed GE’s greater technology collaboration to promote manufacturing in India," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) tweeted after the meeting.

GE Aerospace's engagement with India spans over four decades, with a broad spectrum of activities including engines, avionics, services, engineering, manufacturing, and local sourcing. The company's presence in India includes the John F Welch Technology Centre at Bengaluru, which opened in 2000, and its Multi-modal Factory at Pune, which opened in 2015.

"In 1986, GE began working with the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL to support the development of India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with F404 engines. Subsequently GE Aerospace’s F404 and F414 have been part of development and production programs of LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk2 programs. 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," the company's statement noted.

The signing of the MOU between HAL and GE Aerospace represents a strategic maneuver designed to amplify HAL's manufacturing capabilities and fortify India's security. This collaborative partnership serves as a catalyst for HAL to harness the cutting-edge technology offered by GE Aerospace, thereby fostering advancements within India's aerospace sector.

The F414 engines have garnered a stellar reputation and have become the propulsion system of choice for numerous nations, with eight countries either actively operating or eagerly anticipating the arrival of F414-powered aircraft. The collaboration and joint production of these engines in India carry profound implications for both nations, yielding wide-ranging benefits