Tejas hits engine supply hurdle, jet production to remain sluggish

India's fighter jet manufacturing is expected to remain sluggish and not meet the target of 16 Tejas Mark-1A jets next fiscal after US company General Electric (GE) has conveyed its schedule and ability to deliver only 12 engines for these jets.

The delay in getting engines has impacted deliveries of the 83 Tejas Mark1A jets, which the plane-maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is making for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Deliveries of the 83 jets were to start in March 2024; however, so far not a single plane has been delivered.

Not a single plane delivered

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was tasked to start supplies of Tejas Mark-1A from March 2024, with 16 jets being supplied till March 2025. However, so far not a single plane has been delivered

The US aerospace giant GE has conveyed its ability to deliver only 12 engines for these jets this fiscal as it is facing problems from South Korean suppliers  

Defence Secretary Raj Kumar Singh, speaking at an event on the Union Budget, mentioned the engine supplies by GE, saying “we have ordered engines. The delay is on their side on meeting timelines. They have given a revised timeline that starts from March and 12 (engines) next year and 20 the year thereafter.”

Sources said originally, supplies of engines was to start in April 2023 at the rate of 16 engines a year. With just 12 engines scheduled next year, the production of Teja Mark1A shall remain sluggish, sources said.

The HAL was tasked to start supplies of jets from March 2024 with 16 jets being supplied till March 2025.

In 2021, GE signed a $716 million contract with the Ministry of Defence-owned HAL to supply 99 F404-GE-IN20 engines for the Tejas Mark -1A jets.

Sources said the GE had told the Indian side that one of its South Korean suppliers for parts of the engine was facing a crisis that has stopped supplies. India has asked the US company to source the part from India to overcome this disruption of supplies sources said, adding that metallurgically cast products can be done in India too.

Also separately, last year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between GE and HAL to produce the GE 414 engines for fighter jets of the Indian Air Force. The GE 414 is 35 per cent more powerful than its predecessor the F404.