New Delhi, July 13 (IANS): Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received the seventh GE F404-IN20 engine from US aerospace major GE Aerospace for the Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet that the public sector defence major is producing for the Indian Air Force (IAF), according to reliable sources.

The arrival of the engine, after a delay of several months, has come as a big relief, as the assembly of Tejas Mk-1A fighters can now be accelerated. Several completed airframes of the fighter aircraft are awaiting engine integration before flight testing and induction into the Indian Air Force.

The F404-IN20 engine powers both the Tejas Mk-1 and Mk-1A variants. Delays in engine deliveries from the US manufacturer have emerged as the biggest bottleneck affecting HAL’s production schedule and the IAF’s modernisation plans.

Under the existing Rs 48,000 crore contract, the IAF has ordered 83 Tejas Mk-1A fighters, while an additional order for 97 aircraft has expanded the planned fleet to 180 fighters. To support this programme, GE Aerospace has committed to increasing production and supplying 24-26 F404 engines annually from 2026.

HAL has also expanded its manufacturing capacity with multiple assembly lines in Bengaluru and Nashik to accelerate aircraft production. If engine deliveries continue as scheduled, HAL is expected to begin delivering the first batch of Tejas Mk-1A fighters by late 2026.

The sixth engine, which was delivered earlier by GE Aerospace, has now been cleared for operational use following the rectification of a technical snag that had been detected during testing carried out at HAL. GE Aerospace experts worked on the engine to remove the defects, after which HAL completed its own verification checks. The engine has now been declared fit for operational use.

Meanwhile, India has also submitted a formal Letter of Request to France for the procurement of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force in a deal estimated at roughly $31 billion. The acquisition is a major step towards strengthening the IAF’s declining squadron strength.

–IANS

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