US company GE Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to jointly produce its F414 turbofan engine in India, the company announced on 22 June.
The agreement was signed on the occasion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state visit to the United States and is seen as an important step in enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries.
The two companies aim to jointly manufacture GE Aerospace’s F414 engine for the Indian Air Force (IAF)’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 programme.
“This is a historic agreement made possible by our longstanding partnership with India and HAL,” said H. Lawrence Culp, Jr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace.
“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. “Our F414 engines are unmatched and will offer important economic and national security benefits for both countries as we help our customers produce the highest quality engines to meet the needs of their military fleet.”
GE Aerospace noted that the latest agreement will build on its earlier commitment to build 99 F414-INS6 engines for the Tejas Mk2 programme.
The company added that the MOU will also support the selection of the F414-INS6 for the prototype development, testing, and certification of India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk2 programme.
According to GE Aerospace, it initially commenced collaboration with HAL and the government-owned Aeronautical Development Agency to support the LCA programme with F404 engines. Subsequently its F404 and F414 have been part of development and production of the LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk2 programmes.
“In total, 75 F404 engines have been delivered and another 99 are on order for LCA Mk1A,” said the company. “Eight F414 engines have been delivered as part of an ongoing development program for LCA Mk2.”
“Today’s agreement will advance GE Aerospace’s earlier commitment to build 99 engines for the Indian Air Force as part of the LCA Mk2 programme,” it added, noting that F414 engines have already accumulated over five million flight hours and are in operation in eight countries.
by Jr Ng
