The Indian Aerospace enterprise HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) has revealed that it has placed an order worth Rs 5,375 crores ($716 mn) for 99 units of F404-GE-IN20 engines and support services with GE Aviation, USA, to power the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft , that has got a boost due to the Indian Defence ministry demand for the Aircraft.
“This is the largest-ever deal and the purchase order placed by HAL for LCA,” said R Madhavan, CMD, HAL. The company is working closely with GE for its support to pursue the export potential of LCA and also to supply spares to the global supply chain of GE 404 engines, he added.
Chris Cyr, Vice President, Business Development & Sales, GE Aviation who interacted virtually, said his company is proud of 16-year-long partnership with HAL and is happy to extend the relationship with this new order. “The F404 family of engines has proven itself in operations all over the world and we have committed to deliver all 99 engines and support services by 2029,” he added.
Tejas has a tail-less compound delta wing configuration with a single vertical stabilizer. This provides better high-alpha performance characteristics than conventional wing designs.
HAL claims that the indigenously-built Tejas fighter aircraft is among the best in its class globally, powered by F404-GE-IN20 jet engines and has been in service since 2004.
“Ordering the engines marks a major milestone in the execution of 83 LCA contracts with IAF. The co-operation will further be enhanced with the manufacturing of GE F414 engines in India for the upcoming LCA MkII programme,” a statement from HAL read.
About the Powerplant, being the highest thrust variant of the F404 family, the F404-GE-IN20 incorporates GE’s latest hot section materials and technologies as well as FADEC for reliable power and operational characteristics.
The F404 family engines have already accumulated more than 14 million engine flight hours and have powered 15 different production and prototype aircraft.
An excess of 4,000 units of F404 jet engines power a number of combat aircrafts flown by the United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, plus countries throughout Europe, Asia and Africa.
Initially GE had developed the F404 for the F/A-18 Hornet, shortly after losing the competition for the F-15 Eagle's engine to Pratt & Whitney, and losing the Lightweight Fighter (LWF) competition to the Pratt & Whitney F100 powered YF-16.
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