GE Aerospace Hands Over Fourth F404–IN20 Engine to HAL

GE Aerospace handed over the fourth F404-IN20 engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on September 30, 2025.

The delivery is part of a $716 million contract signed in 2021 for the supply of 99 engines to power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A fighter jets.

This latest handover marks the second engine delivery in September alone, indicating steady progress in stabilizing the supply chain, which had previously been disrupted due to global logistics challenges and delays from a South Korean component supplier.

HAL is expected to receive a total of 12 engines by the end of the current financial year. The remaining deliveries will follow in phases, with GE expected to ramp up shipments in the coming months.

The F404-IN20 engines will power the LCA Tejas Mk1A, an advanced variant of India’s indigenous fighter jet developed by HAL.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed an order for 83 LCA Mk1A aircraft and is in the advanced stages of approving an additional 97 jets, bringing the total expected Mk1A fleet to 180 aircraft.

The IAF ultimately plans to induct a total of 352 Tejas fighters, including both Mk1A and the upcoming Mk2 variants.

HAL has stated that it remains on track to meet its delivery targets for this year and aims to scale up full-rate production to 30 aircraft per year by 2026–27, with support from both public and private sector partners.