Boost For IAF Capabilities, GE Aerospace To Set Up F404 Engine Depot in India

In a big boost to India's defence capabilities, GE Aerospace on Monday (April 13) announced a new contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to establish an in-country depot facility for the F404-IN20 engines. Notably, these engines power IAF’s Light Combat Aircraft Tejas fleet. The facility will be set up by the IAF with technical inputs from GE Aerospace. Once operational, the facility will eliminate the need to depend on the overseas repair centres, significantly improving turnaround times. The depot facility will be owned, operated, and maintained by the Indian Air Force, with GE Aerospace providing technical inputs, training, support staff, and the supply of necessary spares and specialised equipment. The new deal marked the next step in the four-decade-long

partnership between GE Aerospace and the IAF.The development came days after the American aviation major reportedly delivered the sixth F404-IN20 engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to power the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet. Notably, GE Aerospace has delivered only six engines for the indigenously built fighter jet, five short of what was promised as per the revised timeline.

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GE Aerospace has handed over the sixth F404-IN20 engine against the order from 2021. GE Aerospace and HAL continue to work closely to ensure clear line of sight of production schedules for the F404 engines,” read a statement by a spokesperson for GE Aerospace, as quoted by The Print. The company is yet to deliver 99 such engines more. The first engine was delivered by GE Aerospace on March 26, 2025.Also Read: HAL-GE Big Defence Deal: What’s Inside India-US Mega Aerospace Pact to Procure 113 Jet Engines In February 2021, the Defence Ministry had signed a USD48,000-crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets. Out of these fighter jets, 73 would be Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, and the remaining 10 would be Tajas trainer aircraft. As per the contract, the delivery will be completed in eight years from the date of signing the agreement, and a total of 16 fighter jets will be provided per year, with the first jet scheduled to be provided in the third year. GE Aerospace Also Finalises New deal With HAL:General Electronics Aerospace and HAL reached an agreement on technical matters and final contract will be signed later this year,The aim of this deal is to fulfil the declining fighter squadron strength of the Indian Air Force