Indian Air Force (IAF) LCA Tejas does an aerobatic routine at Aero India 2023 at Yelahanka Air Base, Bengaluru, India, on February 13, 2023.
Production of the homegrown Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk-1A is yet to pick up as envisioned, with engine maker General Electric falling behind schedule for delivering two F-404 engines in August, defence sources indicated. Ten of these sophisticated planes have been completed so far by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
After US and Indian officials' recent high-level talks, GE has promised delivery of 3-5 engines by October, although Indian authorities are skeptical.
So far, GE has supplied only two engines—a March one and another in July. The tardy supply, following a one-year delay, has slowed the manufacture of the indigenous fighter aircraft intended to replace the old MiG-21 fleet in the IAF.
With the retirement this month of the last two squadrons of MiG-21, the IAF will be left with only 29 fighter squadrons, its lowest level in six decades.
When questioned on the delay, a GE spokesperson said, "We are on track to the latest schedule we have published to HAL."
The sources stated that HAL has got ready two single-engine Tejas Mk-1A jets with the F-404 engines received till now, and weapon trials are in progress. One of these fighter jets is based at HAL's new Nashik unit and will be handed over to the IAF in the next few months.
These engines will be essential for the Rs 45,000 crore deal inked by the Defence Ministry with HAL in 2021 for delivering 83 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets to the IAF.
In a parallel process, commercial negotiations with GE are underway for the more advanced F-414 engines, which will power next-generation fighter aircraft, including the Tejas LCA-MK-2 as well as the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
An Indian delegation is to travel to the USA later this month to negotiate the F-414 deal with GE, with an eye to tying up the deal by 2026.
After the Union Cabinet approved 97 more Tejas LCA Mk-1A jets, HAL would need more F-404 engines but deliveries of new ones will start only after the existing order of 82 jets is completed. HAL officials said they were confident of delivering the remaining 180 aircraft by 2031-32, assuming engine supplies continue as is.
Earlier, GE delivered 65 F-404 engines under an earlier order that was fulfilled by 2016, following which the production line was closed. The company says that the present delays are happening because of issues in restarting production after HAL's 2021 order for another 99 engines.
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