Jet engine deal powers ties between India and US

The development also puts an end to the technology-denial regime which began after India’s nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1998 and had obstructed its pursuit of an advanced combat jet engine technology.

In a statement,GE Aerospace said this pact marks “a major milestone” and is “a key element in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries”. The agreement, the statement said, includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India, for which it  is working with the US government to receive necessary export authorisation.

The F414 engines will power the IAF’s Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 jets.

India’s first indigenous fighter jet LCA Tejas is powered by GE’s F404 engines – India failed to develop a jet engine despite repeated attempts by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment.

As many as 75 F404 engines have been delivered and another 99 are on order for LCA Mk1A by GE, it said in the statement, adding that eight F414 engines have been delivered as part of an ongoing development programme 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 program,” it said.

It said the pact will put the company in a strong position to create a family of products in India, including the F404 engine that currently powers the LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk1A aircraft, highlighting GE Aerospace’s selection for the prototype development, testing and certification of India’s ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme with its F414-INS6 engine.

The GE-404 engine, the basic design of which has been replicated in the F414, was developed in the 1970s.

“In addition, GE will continue to collaborate with the Indian government on the AMCA Mk2 engine programme,” it said.

Aside from GE, India has been talking to other global jet engine makers for technology transfer such as Safran SA of France and Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom for the AMCA.

With a handful of countries mastering the technology and metallurgy needed to make combat jet engines, most have been unwilling to share it with other countries.

“This is a historic agreement made possible by our longstanding partnership with India and HAL,” the GE statement quoted 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 said.

“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.”

“In addition to potential new work in India, a number of US facilities that currently support work on the F414 engine will see additional volume as a result of today’s announcement,” the statement said.

GE’s presence in India includes its research and technology centre, the John F Welch Technology Centre in Bengaluru, which opened in 2000, and its Multi-modal Factory at Pune, which opened in 2015.

Eight nations have F414-powered aircraft in operation or on order, according to GE.

F414-GE-400 engines power the US Navy’s Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. Saab’s Gripen E/F fighters use the F414G, the single-engine variant of the F414-GE-400. The manufacturer’s website says F414 engines could also power emerging platforms such as the Korean KF-X.