This the discussion which is going on in the defense community and why there is a reason for it. India’s indigenous fighter jet program be it LCA Mark-2 or AMCA depends on US engine. In August 2021, HAL had signed Rs 5,375-crore contract with GE Aviation for supply of 99 F404-GE-IN20 for LCA Tejas. The then HAL CMD R Madhavan has informed that the co-operation will be further enhanced with the manufacturing of GE F414 engines in India for the upcoming LCA MkII program. In October 2022, it was reported that India is working with US to get 100% manufacturing ToT of engines in India. In February 2023, the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was on 3-day visit to US. During the visit, there were several rounds of discussions with US officials to license the GE F414 engine in India.

While US has committed expeditious review of the license application submitted by General Electric to produce jet engines in India for the indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft, the matter is stuck with the Biden government. This approval was supposed to come in November 2022, however even after 6 months of delay US government has not approved the GE application for ToT required to produce engines in India.

There is no surprise in this news. US is known for attaching strings to all its deal. France is ahead of US in the race to provide the fighter jets to India, be it 114 MRFA for IAF or 26 deck based fighter jet for Indian Navy. Earlier US was hesitant to give F-35 fighter jet to India has now even passed legislation last year for sale of 5th generation fighter jets to Indian. This is the reason why we have seen F-35 during the Aero India 2023.

As per the report of India Today, India’s policymakers have probably fallen into the trap of vested international lobbies that do not want India to attain self-reliance in fighter jet technology, including fifth generation stealth jet technology.

This was very much expected as India has done a grave mistake of relying on US for a critical technology. At the same time the Kaveri engine program has not been moved ahead. Lack of investment and vision towards development of indigenous low bypass turbo fan engine has created critical dependency on US which can be exploited.

Indian policy makers have yet not woken up. While the DRY Kaveri engine has been successful, it’s expected to get certified by 2024, there has not been any follow up program to develop the after-burner section or redesign and develop a new indigenous engine with better thrust output.

The discussion for development of 110 KN class low bypass turbofan engine with Safran, Rolls Royce and GE has been making rounds for years and yet to be concluded.

So looking at present situation, Indian has no other option than to please Uncle Same to get approve the local manufacturing of GE F414 engines which will power LCA Mark2, AMCA and TEDBF fighter jets. I can just hope that Indian policy makers realize how critical technology engines are going to be and lack of which is going to ground the entire fleet of upcoming fighter jets.

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