US engine deal saves Indian Tejas Mk1A fighter jet program amid China-Pakistan pressure
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According to information published by IDRW on August 21, 2025, the United States has committed to resume a stable supply of GE F404-IN20 engines to India, clearing a major bottleneck that had stalled the production of Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. This renewed delivery plan restores momentum to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after months of uncertainty caused by global supply chain disruptions and a delayed restart of GE’s manufacturing line. The move comes just ahead of India’s decision to authorize a massive follow-on order of 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters, cementing the program’s role as the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s modernization drive.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Tejas Mk1A is India’s indigenous multirole light fighter equipped with AESA radar, electronic warfare systems, precision strike capability, and powered by the GE F404-IN20 engine delivering 19,000 pounds of thrust (Picture source: HAL).
GE Aerospace has pledged to deliver 12 engines by the end of 2025, maintaining a steady rate of two units per month through March 2026. This reliable cadence is critical to HAL’s revised target of rolling out 12 Tejas Mk1A jets by December 2025. The company had faced sharp scrutiny earlier this year after the first two engines from the original 2021 contract arrived more than a year late, prompting India’s Ministry of Defence to impose penalties on the US manufacturer. With deliveries now stabilized, HAL is expected to regain production rhythm and restore confidence in India’s indigenous fighter initiative.
On August 19, 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared a fresh procurement of 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters in a landmark deal valued at ₹62,000 crore (approximately $7.4 billion). This expansion nearly doubles the fleet under construction, bringing the Indian Air Force’s confirmed Tejas Mk1A strength to 180 aircraft. The contract falls under the “Buy Indian – IDDM” category, highlighting New Delhi’s determination to accelerate defense indigenization and reduce reliance on foreign platforms.
The Tejas Mk1A is a single-engine, delta-wing, multirole light fighter designed for air superiority, strike missions, and precision attack roles. Featuring advanced avionics, AESA radar, electronic warfare suites, and compatibility with a wide range of indigenous and imported weapons, it represents India’s most mature domestically developed combat aircraft. Its propulsion comes from the GE F404-IN20 turbofan, capable of producing up to 19,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner, supported by advanced hot-section materials and a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system. The combination provides agility, acceleration, and high reliability while keeping maintenance demands relatively low, making the aircraft suitable for both frontline deployments and high sortie generation.
The General Electric F404-IN20 powering the Tejas Mk1A is a proven afterburning turbofan that blends compact design with high thrust-to-weight efficiency. Derived from the widely deployed F404 family, the IN20 variant delivers up to 19,000 pounds of thrust in afterburner and incorporates advanced hot-section alloys to withstand extreme thermal loads. Its full authority digital engine control (FADEC) ensures precise throttle response and optimizes performance across all flight regimes, while improvements in compressor aerodynamics and turbine cooling enhance fuel efficiency and durability. Built for reliability in demanding combat conditions, the F404-IN20 is designed for rapid maintenance turnaround, enabling high sortie generation rates and making it particularly suited to India’s operational needs for quick-reacting multirole fighters. Beyond the Tejas Mk1A, variants of the F404 engine also equip several frontline combat aircraft worldwide, including the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, and the Korean Aerospace Industries T-50 Golden Eagle trainer, underscoring its reputation as one of the most versatile and combat-proven powerplants in modern aviation.
For India, the partnership with GE is not merely a matter of supply but of strategic endurance. The Indian Air Force is facing a severe fighter squadron shortfall, with older MiG-21s and Jaguars nearing retirement. The Tejas Mk1A is the only indigenous program capable of filling this gap quickly, while the F404-IN20 remains the sole certified powerplant for the aircraft. A disruption in engine deliveries would jeopardize operational readiness, delay squadron inductions, and undermine confidence in India’s broader defense industrial base. By ensuring steady deliveries, the GE–HAL partnership guarantees continuity in production while also serving as a bridge toward deeper cooperation on the more advanced F414 engine program for the Tejas Mk2.
This development comes at a time of mounting geopolitical pressure in Asia. India is facing heightened tensions along its northern border with China, which continues to expand airbases and deploy advanced fighters in the Tibet region. At the same time, Pakistan is modernizing its fleet with Chinese-origin JF-17 Block III fighters equipped with AESA radars and long-range missiles. Against this backdrop, strengthening the Tejas program is not only about self-reliance but also about maintaining credible airpower balance in South Asia. The revived engine supply chain ensures that India can field new squadrons in time to deter regional threats while reinforcing its strategic autonomy in an increasingly polarized global defense landscape.
Looking forward, GE Aerospace has assured Indian authorities it will scale annual F404-IN20 production from 12 to 24 engines by 2027, reducing the risk of future bottlenecks. In parallel, India is advancing its joint venture with GE to locally manufacture the more powerful F414 engine for the upcoming Tejas Mk2, a step expected to significantly deepen technology transfer and boost indigenous aerospace capability.
This breakthrough marks a turning point for India’s Light Combat Aircraft program. By securing reliable engine deliveries, HAL can now sustain mass production of one of South Asia’s most vital tactical fighters, reinforcing the Indian Air Force’s operational readiness while advancing the country’s long-term goal of strategic self-reliance in military aviation.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
According to information published by IDRW on August 21, 2025, the United States has committed to resume a stable supply of GE F404-IN20 engines to India, clearing a major bottleneck that had stalled the production of Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. This renewed delivery plan restores momentum to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after months of uncertainty caused by global supply chain disruptions and a delayed restart of GE’s manufacturing line. The move comes just ahead of India’s decision to authorize a massive follow-on order of 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters, cementing the program’s role as the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s modernization drive.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Tejas Mk1A is India’s indigenous multirole light fighter equipped with AESA radar, electronic warfare systems, precision strike capability, and powered by the GE F404-IN20 engine delivering 19,000 pounds of thrust (Picture source: HAL).
GE Aerospace has pledged to deliver 12 engines by the end of 2025, maintaining a steady rate of two units per month through March 2026. This reliable cadence is critical to HAL’s revised target of rolling out 12 Tejas Mk1A jets by December 2025. The company had faced sharp scrutiny earlier this year after the first two engines from the original 2021 contract arrived more than a year late, prompting India’s Ministry of Defence to impose penalties on the US manufacturer. With deliveries now stabilized, HAL is expected to regain production rhythm and restore confidence in India’s indigenous fighter initiative.
On August 19, 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared a fresh procurement of 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters in a landmark deal valued at ₹62,000 crore (approximately $7.4 billion). This expansion nearly doubles the fleet under construction, bringing the Indian Air Force’s confirmed Tejas Mk1A strength to 180 aircraft. The contract falls under the “Buy Indian – IDDM” category, highlighting New Delhi’s determination to accelerate defense indigenization and reduce reliance on foreign platforms.
The Tejas Mk1A is a single-engine, delta-wing, multirole light fighter designed for air superiority, strike missions, and precision attack roles. Featuring advanced avionics, AESA radar, electronic warfare suites, and compatibility with a wide range of indigenous and imported weapons, it represents India’s most mature domestically developed combat aircraft. Its propulsion comes from the GE F404-IN20 turbofan, capable of producing up to 19,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner, supported by advanced hot-section materials and a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system. The combination provides agility, acceleration, and high reliability while keeping maintenance demands relatively low, making the aircraft suitable for both frontline deployments and high sortie generation.
The General Electric F404-IN20 powering the Tejas Mk1A is a proven afterburning turbofan that blends compact design with high thrust-to-weight efficiency. Derived from the widely deployed F404 family, the IN20 variant delivers up to 19,000 pounds of thrust in afterburner and incorporates advanced hot-section alloys to withstand extreme thermal loads. Its full authority digital engine control (FADEC) ensures precise throttle response and optimizes performance across all flight regimes, while improvements in compressor aerodynamics and turbine cooling enhance fuel efficiency and durability. Built for reliability in demanding combat conditions, the F404-IN20 is designed for rapid maintenance turnaround, enabling high sortie generation rates and making it particularly suited to India’s operational needs for quick-reacting multirole fighters. Beyond the Tejas Mk1A, variants of the F404 engine also equip several frontline combat aircraft worldwide, including the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, and the Korean Aerospace Industries T-50 Golden Eagle trainer, underscoring its reputation as one of the most versatile and combat-proven powerplants in modern aviation.
For India, the partnership with GE is not merely a matter of supply but of strategic endurance. The Indian Air Force is facing a severe fighter squadron shortfall, with older MiG-21s and Jaguars nearing retirement. The Tejas Mk1A is the only indigenous program capable of filling this gap quickly, while the F404-IN20 remains the sole certified powerplant for the aircraft. A disruption in engine deliveries would jeopardize operational readiness, delay squadron inductions, and undermine confidence in India’s broader defense industrial base. By ensuring steady deliveries, the GE–HAL partnership guarantees continuity in production while also serving as a bridge toward deeper cooperation on the more advanced F414 engine program for the Tejas Mk2.
This development comes at a time of mounting geopolitical pressure in Asia. India is facing heightened tensions along its northern border with China, which continues to expand airbases and deploy advanced fighters in the Tibet region. At the same time, Pakistan is modernizing its fleet with Chinese-origin JF-17 Block III fighters equipped with AESA radars and long-range missiles. Against this backdrop, strengthening the Tejas program is not only about self-reliance but also about maintaining credible airpower balance in South Asia. The revived engine supply chain ensures that India can field new squadrons in time to deter regional threats while reinforcing its strategic autonomy in an increasingly polarized global defense landscape.
Looking forward, GE Aerospace has assured Indian authorities it will scale annual F404-IN20 production from 12 to 24 engines by 2027, reducing the risk of future bottlenecks. In parallel, India is advancing its joint venture with GE to locally manufacture the more powerful F414 engine for the upcoming Tejas Mk2, a step expected to significantly deepen technology transfer and boost indigenous aerospace capability.
This breakthrough marks a turning point for India’s Light Combat Aircraft program. By securing reliable engine deliveries, HAL can now sustain mass production of one of South Asia’s most vital tactical fighters, reinforcing the Indian Air Force’s operational readiness while advancing the country’s long-term goal of strategic self-reliance in military aviation.
