Aerospace

Mega Jet Engine Deal With US: GE, HAL To Build Fighter Jet Engines For IAF

Argentina asked India to remove the uk parts from Tejas

As part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state visit to the US, GE Aerospace announced that it has signed an MOU with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. This marks a significant development and a crucial step in advancing defense cooperation between the two nations.

HAL to develop LCA-Mk2 at a total cost of Rs 9,000 crore: A game changer(Opens in a new browser tab)

The deal calls for the prospective collaborative manufacture of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India, and GE Aerospace is still coordinating with the U.S. government to obtain the required export authorization for this. The Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 programme of the Indian Air Force includes this effort.

With extensive involvement in the sector, including engines, avionics, services, engineering, manufacturing, and local sourcing, GE Aerospace has been operating in India for over four decades. A number of U.S. facilities that now support work on the F414 engine are expecting an increase in volume as a result of today’s announcement, in addition to possible new work in India.

GE eyes multi-billion dollar engine deal with India for fighter jet programs(Opens in a new browser tab)

With today’s agreement, GE Aerospace will move closer to fulfilling its prior promise to construct 99 engines for the Indian Air Force as part of the LCA Mk2 programme. It gives the business a good chance to establish a line of goods in India, including the F404 engine that now powers the LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk1A aircraft and the F414-INS6 engine that GE Aerospace was chosen to develop, test, and certify as the AMCA program’s prototype engine. Additionally, GE will keep working with the Indian government on the AMCA Mk2 engine programme.

With over five million flying hours and eight countries operating or ordering F414-powered aircraft, the F414 continues to exceed reliability and time on wing targets. Over 1,600 F414 engines have been delivered worldwide so far.

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.