India has become the fifth country in the world to produce jet engines but are we self-sufficient yet?

Months after United States’ Defence giant GE Aeronautics signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the US Congress has given clearance to the deal for manufacturing F414 jet engines in India for HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mark 2. The MoU was signed when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a two-day state visit to the US in June this year. Although the MoU was signed when PM Modi was in the US in June itself, however, according to the process, the State Department notified the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 28. The deal is significant because the US treats jet engine technology as a “Crown jewel” and hasn’t shared similar tech with even its closest allies. For its part, India has lagged in jet engine technology, a gap that the agreement can bridge, helping bolster both India’s aerial power, especially in the backdrop of the fragile situation with China at the Line of Actual Control, and its ambition of building a domestic defence industrial base. GE Aerospace would transfer 80% of its technology to India for the manufacture of F414 fighter jet engines under this agreement. Under the Transfer of Technology (ToT) provision, both the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, which is now under construction and will have twin engines, and the LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Mark II will be powered by the India-specific GE-F414 INS6 engine, which will be introduced by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) early next year and enter service by the end of 2024.

The 4.5 generation Mark II Tejas, which would replace the Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 aircraft and carry roughly 6.5 tonnes of missiles and munitions, will be powered by the GE-F414 engine in place of the 4+ generation LCA Tejas Mark I’s GE-404 engine. A replacement for the MiG-21, the LAC Mark I can only carry 3.5 tonnes of missiles and ammunition and has half the operational range and warfighting capability of the Mark II. For the Indian Air Force, India intends to construct more than six squadrons, and it also intends to export the fighters to other interested nations. The twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) being developed by ADA, the nodal agency under DRDO for the development of LCAs, will likewise be powered by the GE-F414 engine. The LCA Mk2 will have improved range, enhanced survivability, better situational awareness for pilots, network-centric capabilities, and the ability to quickly switch from one role to another.  Some other fighter planes powered by the F414 engine include Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Boeing E/A-18G Growler and Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen NG. Apart from this, New Delhi has also decided to develop a jet engine in collaboration with France. France company Safran and DRDO will be working jointly on this project.

It is pertinent to note that with India and the US signing this deal, India became the fifth country in the world to produce jet engines, joining the United States, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom. The deal will not only bolster India’s military capabilities and expand defence production, the deal will also assist in replacing India’s ageing fighter fleet. The partnership is being considered as a "Big game changer", as it forms the basis for future indigenous engines that will power fighter aircraft. India is using the American engine for the indigenous aircraft after the setbacks in developing an indigenous jet engine, with the project to develop the Kaveri engine not giving the expected results. However, a version of the Kaveri engine is being used to power the Ghatak drone. This Deal has come to life at a very critical juncture from the context of India's fighter aircraft ecosystem.

(The writer is a freelancer; views expressed are personal)