Latest news with #GE-F404
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India, France to collaborate on ₹61,000 cr deal for fighter engines
The Ministry of Defence has recommended a strategic partnership with France to co-develop next-generation fighter jet engines, a move expected to bring advanced capabilities in manufacturing and design to India, The Economic Times reported on Friday. Joint project to develop thrust engine Following an extensive consultation process, including detailed input from a technical committee that assessed all critical aspects of fighter jet engine manufacturing, the ministry concluded that French aerospace firm Safran offered the most beneficial terms. The recommendation is part of a ₹61,000 crore initiative to co-develop a 120 kilonewton (kN) thrust engine, intended for future combat platforms such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Safran's offer beats UK's Rolls Royce The government had evaluated proposals from Safran and the UK-based Rolls Royce. The French company's offer emerged as the frontrunner for two reasons: its alignment with the AMCA timeline and its commitment to full technology transfer. Safran's roadmap is expected to integrate with the developmental goals of the AMCA, and the partnership is seen as a step towards reducing India's dependence on imported propulsion systems. At the present moment, all Indian fighter aircraft rely on engines of foreign origin. A substantial portion of a fighter jet's cost goes into its engine and related maintenance. Kaveri project redirected for UCAV, marine use India has long pursued the goal of developing its own fighter jet engine under the Kaveri programme, managed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). However, the project did not reach completion, as the Kaveri engine failed to achieve the necessary thrust for fighter jet deployment. The Kaveri design has since been repurposed. A variant is being developed for Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), while the Kaveri Marine Gas Turbine (KMGT) is being tailored for smaller naval platforms. US delivers GE-F404 engines for LCA Mk-1A On July 15, India received the second GE-F404 engine from the United States for its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is overseeing the aircraft's assembly, expects to receive 12 more F404 engines this fiscal year to support the production of 83 LCA Mk-1A jets. The order, worth ₹48,000 crore, according to a report by The Hindustan Times, was placed by the Indian Air Force in 2021. HAL is also in advanced talks with GE Aerospace to locally co-produce the F414 engine, intended for the more powerful LCA Mk-2. The proposed deal, estimated at around $1 billion, includes up to 80 per cent technology transfer—an arrangement considered vital for engine ecosystem development in India.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
India receives second GE-F404 engine for LCA Mark-1A fighter programme
India on Monday (July 15, 2025) received the second GE-F404 engine from the United States for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A fighter jet programme. A senior Defence official confirmed the development and said that public sector firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has taken delivery of the engine and is expected to receive 12 more GE-F404 engines by the end of the current financial year. 'The engines will be fitted on the LCA Mark 1A fighter jets. Their delivery had been delayed by over a year due to supply chain disruptions faced by the American engine manufacturer,' the official said. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed orders for 83 LCA Mark 1A aircraft. A proposal to procure 97 additional aircraft is at an advanced stage following clearance from the Defence Ministry, the official added. Earlier this year, HAL received the first GE-F404 engine in March. The engines will be integrated with the LCA Mk-1A fighters, with HAL aiming to deliver over 10 aircraft to the IAF in the near term. In August 2021, HAL had placed an order worth ₹5,375 crore for 99 F404 engines with GE Aerospace to power the indigenously developed Tejas Mk-1A. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently held a phone conversation with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to review ongoing and forthcoming initiatives aimed at enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries.
Economic Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
'Nuclear blackmail can't stop us from responding': India in its message to US on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism
India has firmly asserted its right to retaliate against terrorism, dismissing any constraints, including nuclear threats. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar emphasized that there would be no impunity for terrorists or their state sponsors. Defence Minister Singh conveyed to the US that India reserves the right to preemptively strike against cross-border terror threats emanating from Pakistan. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 'India reserves right to pre-empt terror threats' Jaishankar: India has every right to defend its people India has made it unequivocally clear to the United States that it will not let the threat of nuclear retaliation deter its right to act against Affairs Minister S Jaishankar warned that there will be no impunity for terrorists, nor for the governments that shelter and finance them."We are very clear that there will be no impunity for terrorists, that we will not deal with them any longer as proxies and spare the govt which supports and finances and, in many ways, motivates them. We will not allow nuclear blackmail to prevent us from responding" he said in the US, as quoted by ToI, in a blunt statement amid renewed Pakistani efforts to internationalise the so-called Kashmir has maintained that Kashmir is a bilateral dispute, and that New Delhi will not accept any third party firm messaging comes just days after Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir was hosted in Washington, prompting concern in New Delhi over Washington's engagements with Rawalpindi's military this backdrop, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also conveyed India's security red lines to the US, underscoring that India retains the right to act—pre-emptively if needed—against any cross-border terror threats emanating from a 20-minute phone conversation with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed that India reserves the right to defend itself and to pre-empt future attacks from across the border, according to sources cited by reiterated that 'India's actions were measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and focused' during Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7 to target terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).Singh also appreciated the United States' continued support for India's fight against terrorism, while urging faster movement on pending defence projects. These include the delivery of GE-F404 jet engines for the indigenous Tejas Mark-1A fighters, and the six Apache helicopters ordered in 2020, which are now expected to arrive by the end of the ministers also discussed enhancing operational cooperation, logistics sharing, and expanding joint military exercises as part of strengthening bilateral defence a press briefing during his ongoing visit to the United States, EAM S Jaishankar made a strong pitch for zero tolerance against terrorism, as reported by ET stated that India would continue to exercise its sovereign right to respond to terror threats and expects international partners to recognise that stance.'A word about terrorism in the light of our recent experience. The world must display zero tolerance. Victims and perpetrators must never be equated. India has every right to defend its people against terrorism and we will exercise that right. We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that,' Jaishankar said.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Reserve right to pre-emptive hits on terror, Rajnath tells US
NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday told the US that it reserves the right to respond and defend itself against terrorism as well as pre-empt and deter any further cross-border attacks from Pakistan, days after President Donald Trump effusively praised Pakistan army chief Asim Munir while hosting him at the White House. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a 20-minute telephonic conversation with US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth, defence minister also made it clear that India's actions were "measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and focused" on disabling terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and POK when it launched on May 7, sources told TOI. While India believes Pakistan has become a safe haven for terrorists as internationally banned terrorists enjoy immunity there, Trump had praised both Munir as well as PM Modi as "two very smart people" for ending May 7-10 hostilities. Deliver Tejas engines on priority, Rajnath tells US Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has continued with his rant against India, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to providing support to the Kashmiri people for their "legitimate struggle". Singh, on his part, told Hegseth that India appreciates the unwavering support extended by the US for its fight against terrorism. "On defence cooperation, the two agreed to further build upon the momentum of this critical and mutually beneficial partnership across all its pillars such as interoperability, integration of defence industrial supply chains, logistics sharing, increased joint military exercises and cooperation with other like-minded partners," an official said. Singh asked Hegseth to ensure faster deliveries of the long-delayed General Electric GE-F404 engines for the indigenous Tejas-Mark 1A fighters as well as the early conclusion of the agreement to jointly produce the more powerful GE-F414 engines in India. The defence minister also pushed for the delivery of the six Apache heavy-duty attack helicopters that the Indian Army had ordered in a Rs 5,691 crore deal in Feb 2020 but is yet to get. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The six Apaches will now be delivered before this year ends," another official said. The almost two-year delay in delivery of 99 GE-F404 engines by US firm General Electric, which Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had ordered for Rs 5,375 crore in Aug 2021, is one of the main reasons for not even the first Tejas Mark-1A fighter to be delivered to the IAF yet. After the 83 "improved" Tejas Mark-1A jets are delivered under the defence ministry's Rs 46,898 crore deal inked with HAL in Feb 2021, another 97 of those jets for Rs 67,000 crore will also be in the pipeline.
