GE Aerospace announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force, a major milestone amidst Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state visit to the United States and a key element in strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries.
GE Aerospace plans to jointly produce F414 engines in India, collaborating with the US government for export authorization, as part of the Indian Air Force’s Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 program. GE Aerospace has been operating in India for over four decades, focusing on engines, avionics, services, engineering, manufacturing, and local sourcing.
The announcement will increase volume at US facilities supporting the F414 engine. In 1986, GE collaborated with the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL to develop India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) using F404 engines. 75 delivered and 99 on order, with eight F414 engines in development for LCA Mk2. H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace said, “This is a historic agreement made possible by our longstanding partnership with India and HAL”.
