India is preparing to finalize a landmark $1 billion contract with GE Aerospace for 113 GE-404 engines, a move that will power the next wave of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A fighters. Defence officials say the deal should be inked by September 2025, cementing a vital supply line for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
This order comes on top of HAL’s earlier contract for 99 engines, covering the first batch of 83 jets. Together, the two deals will fulfill HAL’s total requirement of 212 engines, supporting the production of 180 LCAs cleared by the government under a ₹62,000 crore procurement plan.
The timeline is ambitious. HAL aims to deliver the first 83 jets by 2029–30 and the next 97 by 2033–34. GE, meanwhile, will supply about two engines per month to keep the schedule on track.
But this is just the first phase. HAL and GE are also in advanced talks for a $1.5 billion deal for 200 GE-414 engines, which will include 80 percent transfer of technology to India. These advanced engines are slated for the upcoming LCA Mk2 and the next-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), both central to India’s strategy of replacing its retiring MiG-21 fleet.
Beyond the GE partnership, India is also working with France’s Safran to co-develop an indigenous engine, signaling a twin-track strategy: global collaborations for immediate capability, and homegrown innovation for long-term self-reliance.
What this really means is that India’s airpower roadmap is entering a decisive stage, with a mix of imported expertise and domestic production driving its fighter jet future.
