India Acquires Second GE-F404 Engine for LCA Mark-1A Fighter Jets

Quick Summary

• India received the second GE-F404 engine from the United States for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A fighter jet program on July 15,2025.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector firm, took delivery of the engine and is expected to recieve 12 more by the end of this financial year.
• The engines will be integrated into LCA Mark-1A fighter jets. Delivery was delayed over a year due to supply chain disruptions faced by GE Aerospace.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) had previously placed orders for 83 LCA Mark-1A aircraft, while a proposal to procure an additional 97 aircraft is under advanced consideration after receiving Defence Ministry clearance.
• HAL aims to deliver over 10 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft shortly.Earlier this year in March, HAL received its first GE-F404 engine as part of an order worth ₹5,375 crore signed in August 2021 with GE Aerospace for 99 engines.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on measures aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.

Indian Opinion Analysis

India’s acquisition of GE-F404 engines represents sustained progress in operationalizing and scaling up its indigenous tejas LCA Mk-1A fleet-an significant part of India’s air combat modernization plan. Among key considerations are timelines: while delays over supply chain disruptions persist globally,HAL’s capability to integrate these systems promptly will remain critical.

The growing partnership between India and the United States highlights deepening bilateral defence collaboration that coudl spur technology sharing beyond procurement agreements. Notably, India’s push for increasing domestic production aligns with strategic autonomy goals but depends heavily on tackling logistical hurdles effectively.With additional orders anticipated post-clearance from the Defence Ministry and plans to deliver over ten units imminently, India’s ability to meet Air Force needs hinges equally on long-term infrastructural readiness and global supplier reliability-a balance central to both security planning and industry growth.

Read more: Original Article