Tejas Mark-1A fighter production to be stepped-up after GE delivers first engine | India News

NEW DELHI: With US main General Electric (GE) now lastly delivering the first of the 99 contracted engines for Tejas Mark-1A fighters after a delay of round two years, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is predicted to step-up production of the much-delayed indigenous jet.
HAL will, in fact, even have to resolve different developmental points just like the pending test-firing of the Astra air-to-air missile from the single-engine Tejas Mark-1A and integration of a few essential techniques, which have all contributed to production delays.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh in current weeks has publicly lashed out on the defence PSU, noting that his power was “very badly off in numbers” and desires to induct a minimum of 40 fighters yearly to keep fight prepared.
TOI had earlier reported that the first of the 99 F-404 turbofan engines, which HAL contracted for Rs 5,375 crore in Aug 2021, would are available March, with GE promising to ship 12 engines within the first 12 months and 20 yearly thereafter.
Also learn: India plans to crank up Tejas production to stem IAF’s depletion in fighters
GE Aerospace on Wednesday introduced it had delivered the first engine to HAL, which entailed the “complex and challenging task” of re-starting the F-404 production line after it had remained dormant for 5 years and re-engaging with the worldwide provide chain for it.
HAL, on its half, contends it will probably progressively scale up production to 20 Tejas per 12 months, after which to 24 per 12 months, with the third production line now useful in Nashik to add to the 2 current ones at Bengaluru.
IAF until now has bought solely 38 of the first 40 Tejas Mark-1 fighters ordered for Rs 8,802 crore below two contracts inked in 2006 and 2010. The first “improved” Tejas Mark-1A jet, out of the 83 contracted from HAL below the Rs 46,898 crore deal in Feb 2021, remains to be to be delivered. The order for one more 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighters for Rs 67,000 crore can be within the pipeline.
These 220 jets, together with one other 108 Tejas Mark-2 variants with extra highly effective GE F-414 engines within the 98 Kilonewton thrust class, are essential for IAF. The power is down to simply 30 fighter squadrons when it’s licensed 42.5 to deal with the dual problem from China and Pakistan
HAL and GE, in fact, at the moment are conducting the ultimate techno-commercial negotiations for co-production of the GE-F414 engines in India, with 80% of switch of know-how for round $1.5 billion.