American military behemoth GE Aerospace has delivered the first out of 99 F-404 aircraft engines officially to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for its light combat aircraft (LCA) program Tejas.
State-run aerospace major HAL is purchasing the engines to fly the Mk-1A model of the Tejas fighter jets.
India's Ministry of Defence in February 2021 inked a ₹48,000 crore deal with HAL for the purchase of 83 Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The delivery of the aircraft was to begin in March last year, but none have been delivered so far. The start of F404-IN20 engine shipments by GE Aerospace is likely to help HAL begin jet deliveries to the IAF.
As per defense sources, the delay in engine shipments from GE Aerospace was one of the major reasons for HAL missing its deadline for Tejas jet deliveries.
Engine Made in the U.S., to Arrive in India
It has been discovered that the engine was delivered to HAL at GE Aerospace's Lynn, Massachusetts, manufacturing plant. The shipment is likely to arrive in India early next month.
GE Aerospace's F404 engine family is renowned globally as one of the most successful in combat aviation, powering thousands of fighter jets worldwide.
"On Tuesday, we were thrilled to deliver the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to our valued customer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fighter aircraft," said the company.
"This is a very important milestone in our four decades of collaboration with HAL and affirms our determination to help augment India's defense capabilities by adding to next-generation fighter development and strengthening indigenous defense manufacturing," it further stated.
Custom-Designed Engine for India's Fighter Program
The F404-IN20 engine has been designed specifically for India's single-engine fighter program with the highest thrust in the F404 family. It has an improved high-flow fan, single-crystal turbine blades, and specialized components to maximize its performance, GE Aerospace said.
GE Aerospace worked closely with the Tejas program team for a number of years to develop the capabilities of the engine for the Indian Air Force's needs.
"The F404 was an ideal fit for the Tejas LCA. At its first test flight in 2008, the aircraft achieved several mission altitudes quickly and a speed of Mach 1.1," the company reported.
By 2016, GE Aerospace had delivered 65 F404-IN20 engines successfully to HAL under the Tejas program.
"With no fresh engine orders on the horizon, the F404-IN20 production line was halted. But when HAL ordered 99 more engines in 2021 for the Tejas Mk-1A LCA, our team set out to accomplish the challenging task of restarting the five-year idled production line and reconnecting with the engine's international supply chain," the company added.
Tejas Anticipated to Bolster the IAF Fleet
Indigenously manufactured Tejas fighter planes are set to emerge as the backbone of the Indian Air Force in the future.
In November last year, India's defence ministry approved initial procurement for purchasing another 97 Tejas fighter planes for the IAF.
Intended for air superiority operations, the Tejas is a very advanced fighter aircraft whose main role is offensive air support and, as secondary roles, reconnaissance and anti-shipping operations.
Recommencing Production
GE Aerospace reiterated that resuming the production line for the F404-IN20 engine was an extremely tough undertaking, especially considering the disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Restarting a production line of aircraft engines is a complex effort. The pandemic only made things more complicated. But through its intense safety and quality focus and outstanding dedication of our supply chain teams, suppliers, and partners, we were able to safely restart operations," the company explained.
GE Aerospace attributed its homegrown lean operating system, which it called "Flight Deck," for its assistance in helping overcome bottlenecks, improve manufacturing processes, and increase turnaround time.
"We are closely collaborating with our suppliers to increase the production of components and materials for the F404-IN20 engine. The collaborative work will ensure the production line continues to be efficient while upholding the highest safety and quality standards," the company stated.
With the delivery of the first engine, GE Aerospace highlighted the success of its long-standing collaboration with HAL.
"This inaugural shipment is a tribute to our successes with HAL since 40 years ago and signifies the gigantic possibility that we hold together for insuring India's defense forces have a secure future," the firm summed up.
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