The GE Aerospace announced delivery of the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to power the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A fighter jet.
- India’s Ministry of Defence inked a ₹48,000 crore deal with HAL in February 2021 for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF and the deliveries were scheduled to roll out from March 2024.
- However, not a single aircraft was delivered to the IAF primarly owing to delay in supply of engines.
- The F404-IN20 engine is a tailored design for India’s single-engine LCA Mk-1A fighter with the highest thrust within F404 family and a higher-flow fan, unique single-crystal turbine blades, and numerous special components.
(Source: BL)
