New Delhi: With US major General Electric (GE) now finally delivering the first of the 99 contracted engines for Tejas Mark-1A fighters after a delay of around two years, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is expected to step-up production of the much-delayed indigenous jet.
HAL will, of course, also have to resolve other developmental issues like the pending test-firing of the Astra air-to-air missile from the single-engine Tejas Mark-1A and integration of a couple of critical systems, which have all contributed to production delays.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh in recent weeks has publicly lashed out at the defence PSU, noting that his force was “very badly off in numbers” and needs to induct at least 40 fighters every year to stay combat ready.
TOI had earlier reported that the first of the 99 F-404 turbofan engines, which HAL contracted for Rs 5,375 crore in Aug 2021, would come in March, with GE promising to deliver 12 engines in the first year and 20 every year thereafter.
GE Aerospace on Wednesday announced it had delivered the first engine to HAL, which entailed the “complex and challenging task” of re-starting the F-404 production line after it had remained dormant for five years and re-engaging with the global supply chain for it.
HAL, on its part, contends it can progressively scale up production to 20 Tejas per year, and then to 24 per year, with the third production line now functional in Nashik to add to the two existing ones at Bengaluru.
IAF till now has got only 38 of the first 40 Tejas Mark-1 fighters ordered for Rs 8,802 crore under two contracts inked in 2006 and 2010. The first “improved” Tejas Mark-1A jet, out of the 83 contracted from HAL under the Rs 46,898 crore deal in Feb 2021, is still to be delivered. The order for another 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighters for Rs 67,000 crore is also in the pipeline.
These 220 jets, along with another 108 Tejas Mark-2 variants with more powerful GE F-414 engines in the 98 kilonewton thrust class, are critical for IAF. The force is down to just 30 fighter squadrons when it is authorised 42.5 to tackle the twin challenge from China and Pakistan.
HAL and GE, of course, are now conducting the final techno-commercial negotiations for co-production of the GE-F414 engines in India, with 80% of transfer of technology for around $1.5 billion.