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New Delhi: US aerospace major GE Aerospace delivered three additional F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) during August 2026, taking the total number of engines delivered for India's LCA Tejas Mk1A programme to 10.
The latest deliveries provide further momentum to HAL's efforts to accelerate production and induction of the Tejas Mk1A, with engine availability remaining a critical requirement for aircraft completion and delivery.
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The F404-IN20 is a specialised version of GE's F404 family developed for the Indian single-engine fighter. GE describes it as the highest-thrust variant of the F404 family, incorporating technologies including a higher-flow fan and single-crystal turbine blades.
HAL's Mk1A programme involves 99 F404 engines, with GE's contract valued at approximately $716 million and covering engines and support services.
The Tejas Mk1A programme has faced delays partly linked to the availability of F404 engines. The latest delivery pace is therefore significant for HAL as it works to move completed aircraft towards final induction into the Indian Air Force.
The development also highlights an important reality of India's indigenous fighter programme: building the airframe domestically does not automatically eliminate dependence on foreign critical components.
India is simultaneously working towards greater propulsion self-reliance, but until an indigenous fighter engine reaches operational maturity, imported powerplants remain an important part of the Tejas supply chain.
With three more engines now delivered, the immediate focus will be on maintaining a consistent supply rate and converting engine availability into completed and inducted Tejas Mk1A fighters.
For Tejas, the challenge is no longer simply designing an indigenous fighter—it is building the industrial ecosystem capable of producing it at the required pace.
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