The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Friday sealed a major deal with US-based General Electric Aerospace to procure 113 jet engines for its Tejas light combat aircraft programme.
Under the deal, the delivery of the F404-GE-IN20 engines and support package for the execution of 97 Tejas MK-1A light combat aircraft (LCA) will begin from 2027, and the supplies will have to be completed by 2032.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has entered into an agreement with M/s. General Electric Company, USA, on 7th November 2025 for the supply of 113 Nos of F404-GE-IN20 engines and support package for execution of 97 LCA Mk1A programme. pic.twitter.com/zB4BVGP0LK
— HAL (@HALHQBLR) November 7, 2025
HAL said it has entered into an agreement with General Electric
to acquire the engines and support package for the execution of 97 LCA MK-1A programme. The Indian Air Force had placed two separate orders for Tejas MK-1A aircraft with HAL.
The first order was for 83 aircraft and the second for 97 aircraft. The Ministry of Defence in September sealed a Rs 62,370 crore deal with the HAL to procure 97 Tejas MK-1A light combat aircraft for the Air Force.
Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. Tejas Mk1A, which completed its maiden flight last month, is an upgraded version of Tejas Mk1, and both variants are powered by engines supplied by GE Aerospace.
The first delivery of the Tejas Mk1 A was scheduled for October, but that delivery has not happened. However, HAL chief DK Sunil, in an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, expressed confidence that the situation would improve.
One of the biggest bottlenecks has been the F404-GE-IN20 engines being supplied by General Electric. The programme to deliver 99 of these engines has been delayed by over 10 months, primarily due to parts and component issues in the GE supply chain. HAL Officials say that they are being kept in loop and the promise of two engines per month has also failed. So far, only four engines have been delivered.
The agreement for the second order (97 aircraft) was reached today, and the delivery will start from 2027.
IAF chief AP Singh has repeatedly flagged the urgency of new inductions to sustain combat readiness. Meanwhile, the HAL officials have said they are confident of meeting this requirement once the production ecosystem stabilises and integration issues are resolved.
