Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL) has imposed liquidated damages on GE Aerospace for delays in supplying F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Mk-1A, its chairman and managing director DK Sunil mentioned on Thursday.
He added that the Indian Air Power’s LCA Mk-1 fleet (the primary Tejas variant), grounded for almost two months, will probably be cleared for flying subsequent week after a software program snag within the fighter jet’s brake system was fastened.
A neighborhood modification committee has cleared the correction.
The contract for 99 engines specifies liquidated damages for any provide delay, and that clause is being invoked each time an engine is delayed, he mentioned. “It’s being carried out in step with the contract.”
The US agency has to date delivered solely six of the 99 engines ordered by HAL in 2021 for $716 million — the primary engine was equipped in March 2025. GE Aerospace had attributed the delays to provide chain bottlenecks and mentioned manufacturing was being ramped as much as fulfil the Indian order.
The engines are meant for 83 LCA Mk-1As ordered by the defence ministry for ₹48,000 crore in 2021. HAL was to ship the primary plane in March 2024, however deliveries are but to start, with the programme hit by engine provide constraints and delays in key certifications.
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“GE has assured us it is going to ship 20 extra engines by the year-end. Twenty LCA Mk-1As are prepared, together with 5 with new engines. The IAF will overview the programme in Could. Deliveries will start after we full trials of the ASRAAM (superior short-range air-to-air missile) within the required configuration and a few radar software program upgrades,” Sunil mentioned.
GE has additionally indicated it is going to ship greater than 20 engines yearly from 2027 onwards, whereas HAL has the capability to construct 24 LCA Mk-1As a yr. The IAF stays involved concerning the tempo of the programme, given the dangers delays in induction of latest fighters might pose to its fight effectiveness.
In November 2025, HAL introduced it had signed one other cope with GE Aerospace for 113 F404-IN20 engines to energy 97 further LCA Mk-1As ordered final September by the defence ministry for ₹62,370 crore. The engine deal is value $1 billion.
“GE Aerospace values its longstanding partnership with HAL and India, and we’re persevering with to work carefully with HAL and our different companions to make sure a transparent line of sight of manufacturing schedules for the F404 engines,” a spokesperson mentioned.
An IAF pilot was killed final November after an LCA Mk-1 crashed throughout an indication flight on the Dubai Airshow, the second crash involving the plane. One other Tejas jet crashed close to Jaisalmer in March 2024 shortly after taking part in a tri-services train; the pilot ejected safely.
