Overview

• Defence officials cited by ANI say India is close to signing a roughly $1 billion contract with GE for 113 GE-404 engines to power 97 Tejas Mk-1A jets, with signing expected by September.
• The new order would add to 99 engines already contracted, taking HAL’s total GE-404 tally for the Mk-1A programme to 212.
• GE is expected to deliver about two engines per month to maintain steady supplies for HAL’s production lines, according to the reports.
• HAL targets delivery of the first 83 Mk-1A aircraft by 2029–30 and the next 97 by 2033–34 as the Indian Air Force phases out MiG-21s.
• Separate negotiations continue for around 200 GE-414 engines valued near $1.5 billion, reportedly with about 80% technology transfer for the LCA Mk-2 and AMCA programmes.