Bengaluru, India — GE Aerospace has delivered the seventh F404-IN20 turbofan engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A programme, continuing engine deliveries that remain slower than the company's earlier production plans.
The F404-IN20 powers both the Tejas Mk1 and Tejas Mk1A. Engine availability remains the primary factor determining the pace of aircraft completion, as propulsion systems must be installed before final integration, ground testing, flight testing, and delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
GE delivered the first F404-IN20 engine on March 26, 2025. The second, third and fourth engines were delivered between July and September 2025, followed by the fifth engine in December 2025. The sixth engine was delivered on April 2, 2026, while the seventh engine has now been handed over around three months later.
The delivery timeline shows that GE supplied five engines during 2025, but only two additional engines during the first half of 2026. Earlier, the company had indicated that it planned to deliver 20 F404-IN20 engines by the end of 2026. Based on the current delivery pace, reaching that target would require a substantial increase in engine shipments during the remaining months of the year. Even matching the five engines delivered in 2025 would require a significantly faster delivery rate than seen so far in 2026.
The slow supply of engines has remained the main constraint on the Tejas Mk1A programme. HAL has already manufactured and flown nearly 30 Tejas Mk1A airframes, with several aircraft awaiting engine installation before they can proceed to final integration, certification, and delivery to the Indian Air Force.
To minimise delays once engines become available, HAL has established multiple production lines and continues manufacturing airframes, avionics, radar, and electronic warfare systems in parallel so that engine integration can begin immediately after delivery and post-delivery quality checks.
The Tejas Mk1A is one of the Indian Air Force's key fighter modernisation programmes. HAL is producing 83 aircraft under a contract worth around ₹48,000 crore, while the Government of India has approved a follow-on order for 97 additional fighters, increasing the planned Tejas Mk1A fleet to 180 aircraft.
To support long-term production, HAL and GE Aerospace signed a follow-on agreement in late 2025 for the supply of 113 additional F404-IN20 engines, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2032. The pace of future engine deliveries will remain a key factor in determining how quickly HAL can complete and deliver Tejas Mk1A fighters to the Indian Air Force.
Source: NewX
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