New Delhi. In a major boost to India’s fighter jet program, GE Aerospace handed over the fourth GE-F404-IN20 engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on September 30. This comes at a time when the Indian Air Force retired its war horse and one of the longest serving fighter jets MiG21.
The F404-IN20 engine will power the LCA Mark 1A fighter jets, which are set to join the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet soon.
GE Aerospace delivered its 4th F404-IN20 engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on September 30, 2025, marking a milestone in the $716 million contract signed in 2021. The engines will power the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, a vital upgrade to India’s indigenous defence capabilities.
The latest delivery represents progress in the contract for 99 engines meant for 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft. Although the agreement was signed in 2021, actual deliveries began only in March 2025 after a 2-year delay. The hold-up reflects ongoing supply chain disruptions that have affected global defence procurement, including Indo-US collaborations.
The F404-IN20 is a proven, high-performance engine known for its reliability and is a critical component for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A variant, which features enhanced avionics and combat capabilities compared to earlier versions.
This delivery comes despite earlier delays caused by supply chain disruptions, including issues with a South Korean component supplier. HAL’s Nashik facility is now ready for the maiden flight of the first Tejas Mk1A, scheduled for October.
Sources reveal that the first two aircraft are planned for handover to the IAF next month, with one fighter already prepared for delivery. In total, ten aircraft have been built and successfully tested, according to top officials.
The handover is part of a $716 million agreement signed in 2021, under which GE Aerospace is supplying 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL. By the end of this financial year, HAL expects to receive 12 engines, stabilising deliveries after initial delays.
In parallel, HAL is finalising a follow-on contract with GE Aerospace for 113 additional engines. HAL Chief said. “We expect to sign the contract in October. The contract value will exceed $1 billion. Price negotiations are complete; we are finalising contract details for signature.”
The upcoming order will include 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seat trainers, with deliveries set to begin in 2027-28 and continue over six years. These engines are critical to India’s broader indigenous Tejas programme, which aims to induct a total of 352 aircraft, combining Mk1A and Mk2 variants.
HAL is ramping up production to meet these ambitious targets, projecting full-scale manufacturing of 30 aircraft annually by 2026–27. Both public and private sector partners are supporting this effort to ensure timely delivery and sustained engine supply.
As India moves steadily toward self-reliance in defence aviation, milestones like this highlight the strategic partnership between HAL and GE Aerospace, reinforcing the IAF’s modernisation and operational readiness.
The engine will be used for the LCA Mark 1A fighter jets, which will be inducted into the Indian Air Force in the near future. On September 11, HAL had received the third GE-404 engine for the LCA Mark-1A fighter jet programme. “HAL has received the third GE-404 engine for LCA Mk1A. One more engine is scheduled to be delivered by the end of September 2025. Engine supply chain improvement will pave the way for LCA Mk1A aircraft deliveries,” it said in a statement.
HAL has acquired 113 F404-IN20 fighter jet engines from GE Aerospace, in a deal valued at around US$ 1 billion, amid ongoing trade negotiations with the US. The contract for the deal will be signed in October.
Speaking with media, Dr DK Sunil, HAL chairman and managing director, said that the agreement is expected to be inked by October this year, with negotiations at an advanced stage.
Regarding the contract for the 113 follow-on GE-404 engines, the HAL chief said, “We expect to sign it in October. The contract will be worth more than 1 billion. The contract negotiations are done, and the price is finalised. We are only going through the contract details, and we have to sign. Now that this main contract is signed, in October, we will sign the contract with GE for 113 engines…”
Since its founding as the John F. Welch Technology Centre (JFWTC) in 2000, when a quarter of a century ago, GE Aerospace assembled some of South Asia’s most prodigious and diverse engineering talents at a new hub in India, the research and engineering site at Bengaluru has become a global aviation leader and an innovation powerhouse on its own. Not only have its leaders contributed to more than 1,000 technology patents, building innovations toward the future of flight, but they’ve played a direct role in the dramatic expansion of the industry throughout Asia and the Middle East.
This 25th anniversary marks the year when India gets its fourth engine for HAL.
