HAL gets 3 more F404 engines, Tejas Mk1A output set to rise

GE Aerospace has shipped three more F404-IN20 engines to HAL for the Tejas Mk1A programme. The fresh deliveries ease a key supply constraint as HAL targets faster production and IAF deliveries.GE Aerospace has shipped three more F404-IN20 engines to HAL for the Tejas Mk1A programme.US aerospace major GE Aerospace has shipped three more F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A programme, providing a fresh boost to a fighter project that has faced delays in engine supplies.GE Aerospace confirmed on Thursday that it shipped the three engines to HAL in August 2026. With the latest consignment, the total number of F404-IN20 engines supplied to HAL for the Mk1A programme has reached 10.The latest deliveries follow the seventh F404-IN20 engine, which GE delivered to HAL in July. The sixth engine had earlier developed a minor technical issue after reaching India, but GE Aerospace subsequently rectified the issue and HAL cleared the engine for use.“GE Aerospace shipped three F404-IN20 engines to HAL in August 2026. We are proud to partner with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Indian Air Force to power India’s indigenous fighter jets,” the company said. HAL has indicated that it expects to receive further engines from GE in the coming months. The PSU has set a target of receiving 22 engines by December as it works to accelerate production and begin aircraft deliveries to the Indian Air Force.GE Aerospace has a contract to supply 99 F404-IN20 engines for the first Tejas Mk1A order. The engine powers the single-engine fighter and remains a critical component of the programme’s production schedule. The Ministry of Defence signed a 48,000-crore contract with HAL in February 2021 for 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft for the IAF. The order comprises 73 fighter aircraft and 10 trainers, with the original contract schedule envisaging completion of deliveries within eight years.Under the initial production plan, HAL was to deliver the first three aircraft in the third year of the contract, followed by 16 aircraft annually for the next five years.However, the programme has fallen significantly behind its original timeline, with engine supply constraints contributing to the delay. The latest GE shipments offer some relief, but a sustained increase in the rate of engine deliveries will remain crucial for HAL to build up production and meet the IAF’s requirement.- EndsPublished By: Akshat TrivediPublished On: Sep 4, 2026 00:00 IST