Even as the Indian Air Force is yet to receive a Tejas Mk 1A, an advanced variant of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk 1, American aircraft engine supplier GE Aerospace, which is blamed for the delay in IAF getting the aircraft, is set to begin delivery of F404-IN20 engines for the aircraft April 2025.
According to a report on The Print, the company was obliged to begin delivery of the engines from March/April 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh raised the issue of the delay in delivery with the company during their recent visits to the United States, according to media reports. The company had reportedly promised them that the delivery of engines will begin by March/April 2025.
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A $716 million contract was signed in August 2021, between between GE and Tejas maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the engines. The American company hasn't offered any reasons for the delay in delivery.
“The HAL as of now can deliver about 5-6 aircraft and, by next year, will have a capacity to manufacture 24. But, it all depends on the GE delivering the engines,” The Print quoted a source as saying.
The government clarified that the delay was not due to any pressure tactics by the US.
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Meanwhile, the ministry of defence clarified that India is not planning to impose any penalty on GE for delay in delivery. “It has been noted that some media organisations have carried a story that India plans to impose penalties on GE for delay in delivery of Tejas engines. Story is factually incorrect as there was no such proposal under consideration. The contract is between HAL & GE,” the ministry stated.