The aerospace unit of General Electric signed an agreement with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to make fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. GE said that the agreement includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India.
India’s quest to manufacture an engine for its indigenous light combat aircraft called “Tejas” began in the 1980s.
Hindustan Aeronautics turned to GE’s F404 engine – the predecessor of F414 – to power Tejas in the mid-2000s. So far, 75 F404 engines have been delivered and another 99 worth $716 million are on order for Tejas Mark 1.
Tejas Mark 2, still under development, is a more powerful jet and needs a bigger engine. HAL has procured eight F414 engines for this program. The F414 will also be used to develop India’s next generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
The first F414 engines are expected to be delivered from the U.S. over the next three years while HAL sets up a production facility for it in India. The first Tejas Mark 2 is expected to fly in 2026.
Full scale production of F414 in India and Tejas Mark 2 is expected only early in the next decade.
The collaboration between the two companies will also promote GE’s prior commitment to manufacturing 99 engines for the Indian Air Force which is a part of the LCA Mk2 program. It will also put GE in a strong position to create a family of products in India. It is worth noting that the company will continue to support the Indian government’s AMCA Mk2 engine program as well.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
