Following GE Aerospace’s confirmation that three F404-IN20 engines were shipped to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in August, the engines are now expected to arrive in India this week. The first two engines are likely to reach the country within the next few days, while the third is expected to arrive shortly afterward.
The latest deliveries represent an improvement in the pace of engine supplies, which have emerged as a major bottleneck for HAL’s Tejas Mk1A production and aircraft deliveries. HAL is currently targeting the delivery of 20 Tejas Mk1A fighters in FY2026-27. The company had initially planned to deliver 12 aircraft in FY2025-26 but subsequently revised the target down to five or six aircraft. As of the latest update, no Tejas Mk1A aircraft had been delivered.
GE Aerospace signed a contract with HAL in 2021 to supply 99 F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Mk1A programme at a reported value of approximately ₹5,375 crore. The company later received orders for an additional 113 F404 engines to support a planned fleet of 180 aircraft.
Of the 212 F404 engines ordered under these contracts, only 10 had been delivered as of the latest update. GE has stated that the 99-engine order prompted it to restart F404-IN20 production after a five-year shutdown. The company had committed to completing delivery of the 99 engines by 2029.
Across multiple contracts, India has ordered a total of 287 F404 engines from GE Aerospace. These engines are being procured to power the Indian Air Force’s indigenous LCA Tejas Mk1 and Mk1A fighter fleets.
An additional 75 F404 engines were previously ordered as part of the Tejas flight-development programme. These engines were intended to power earlier prototypes and technology demonstrators, as well as aircraft assigned to the first two operational squadrons.
The latest engine deliveries are therefore closely linked to India’s efforts to accelerate Tejas Mk1A production and begin aircraft deliveries to the Indian Air Force. A sustained increase in F404 engine supplies will remain critical for HAL to meet its revised production and delivery targets.
