Defence

GE Unveils New Tejas Engine Delivery Schedule After Defense Minister Raises Delay Concerns

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In response to recent concerns raised by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, American engine manufacturer General Electric (GE) has announced a revised delivery schedule for the F404-IN20 engines intended for India’s Tejas Mk1A aircraft.

According to thr Report from The Print, This new schedule, set to commence in November this year, aims to address significant delays in engine deliveries that have impacted the Tejas program.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ambitious plans to induct approximately 300 Tejas fighters over the next 15 years. This requires a substantial ramp-up in production by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the defense public sector undertaking responsible for assembling the aircraft. To meet these goals, HAL must align its production capacity with the IAF’s requirements.

Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari emphasized the need for diversification in production lines and suggested more public-private partnerships or joint ventures to manage multiple weaponry and production lines effectively.

Initially, the IAF placed an order for 83 tejas mk1a generation jets, valued at around Rs 48,000 crore. Following this, the government decided to increase the order by an additional 97 aircraft. However, production delays—primarily due to the late delivery of F-404 engines from GE—have caused the program to lag by over 10 months.

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Sources indicate that GE has committed to delivering two engines per month starting from November, aiming to fulfill the full order of 99 engines. This adjustment follows a contract signed in August 2021, which stipulated that GE should deliver 99 engines beginning March this year. The delay in tejas mk1a delivery has been a significant concern, tejas mk2 vs f16 as no engines have been received yet.

The IAF’s plans also include ordering an additional 97 tejas aircraft to bolster its fleet further. Under the terms of the original contract, GE was expected to deliver engines in tandem with HAL’s aircraft production rate of 16 per financial year. The revised schedule from GE is a crucial step towards addressing the delays and ensuring the timely delivery of engines to support the Tejas program’s progress.

Defence

Russia Seeks Talks with India, Offers Tu-160 Bombers at Unbeatable Prices

Russia is keen to deepen its defense ties with India by offering advanced strategic bombers that could significantly enhance India’s aerial capabilities. Recently, Russia has also agreed to supply critical metallurgical inputs to support the overhaul and modernization of India’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet fleet.

According to the report, Russia has once again extended an offer to India for its strategic heavy bombers, including the Tu-22M3 and the modernized Tu-160, also known as the “White Swan.” The Tu-22M3 was previously proposed to the Indian Navy nearly two decades ago, but the deal did not materialize due to high leasing and modernization costs.

Now, Russia’s new offer includes the Tu-160M, a modernized variant of the original Tu-160, which could significantly enhance India’s long-range strike capabilities.

The Tu-160M, also known as the “White Swan,” is a heavyweight strategic bomber with an impressive range of 12,000 km without refueling. Developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau during the 1970s in the Soviet Union, it remains the world’s largest and heaviest combat aircraft, capable of supersonic speeds.

Its unique variable-sweep wings allow it to adapt to various speeds and missions, making it the fastest bomber in active service. The Tu-160M is equipped with advanced NK-32-02 engines, known for their reduced maintenance requirements, superior performance, and long operational life.It priced at 15 billion roubles ($163 million) each.

India has traditionally focused on multirole fighter jets rather than heavy bombers, and currently, it does not have a single strategic bomber in its fleet. The inclusion of the Tu-160M could give the Indian Air Force the capability to conduct powerful deterrence missions and long-range strikes across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

If the Tu-160M deal is realized, it could mark a significant enhancement in India’s strategic air power and strengthen defense ties between India and Russia, fostering a deeper partnership in the realm of advanced military technology.