HAL receives third GE-404 engine for the LCA Mark 1-A fighter jet from the US

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received the third GE-404 engine for the LCA Mark-1A fighter jet programme from the US, ANI reported citing defence officials, adding that the fourth engine is expected to arrive in India by the end of this month.

The public sector company is expected to receive 12 GE-404 engines by the end of this financial year. The Indian Air Force has placed orders for 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets and a proposal to buy 97 more of these planes is at an advance stage.

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India signed a $716 million agreement with General Electric in 2021 to procure 99 F404-IN20 engines. Delivery was affected due to supply chain disruptions, including the failure of a South Korean component supplier. As a result, the schedule was pushed back to March 2025.

The Indian Air Force plans to induct a total of 352 Tejas aircraft, combining both Mk1A and Mk2 variants. HAL is on track to meet its delivery targets for this year. The defence firm expects engine supplies to stabilise in the next financial year. Full-scale production is projected to touch 30 aircraft per year by 2026–27, with support from both public and private industry partners.