Overview
- HAL confirmed receipt of the fourth F404‑IN20 engine from GE under the 2021 order for 99 units, following the third delivery earlier in September.
- The company says three Mk1A aircraft are ready for final trials this month with first handovers targeted in October, while officials indicated two jets could be transferred to the IAF within weeks.
- Negotiations for a follow‑on purchase of 113 F404 engines are concluded with price finalised, and HAL expects to sign the contract in October covering 68 single‑seat fighters and 29 twin‑seat trainers with deliveries from 2027–28 over six years.
- Delayed engine shipments have been the pacing factor for the programme, and analysts report GE has committed to supply 12 engines in 2025 and 20 in 2026 to ease the bottleneck.
- HAL reports more than ten Mk1A airframes built and tested, weapons integration including Astra and ASRAAM completed, and the Nashik line set for flight tests as production ramps with steadier engine inflows.