As reported by ThePrint, despite ongoing tariff-related frictions between Washington and New Delhi, defence cooperation between India and the United States remains on track. A delegation from state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is scheduled to travel to the US later this month for the fifth round of discussions on the joint production of GE F414-INS6 engines in India.
The engines are intended to power the Tejas Mk 2 fighter aircraft and the first batch of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Sources within the defence and security establishment confirmed that negotiations have been progressing smoothly, with current talks focused on technological collaboration. Cost-related discussions are expected to follow at a later stage.
According to the report, the agreement is expected to include an 80 percent transfer of technology, though this will be limited to production processes rather than design and development. For engine design and development, India plans to collaborate with French company Safran to jointly create a new 120 kN engine for the second tranche of AMCA.
Officials from both General Electric and the US State Department are involved in the discussions. India is optimistic that the joint production contract will be finalized by next year. HAL has already procured 10 F414 engines under its production programme, though deployment has been delayed due to design and certification challenges.
ThePrint further reported that limited series production of the Tejas Mk 2 is expected to commence next year, with the aircraft’s first flight scheduled for 2027. Certification and trials could take an additional three years, paving the way for induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) from 2031 onwards.
The Tejas Mk 2 is a 4.5-generation, single-engine, multirole combat aircraft under development by the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL. It is designed to replace the IAF’s Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29 fleets. Featuring a lengthened fuselage, close-coupled canards for enhanced manoeuvrability, and the more powerful GE F414-INS6 engine generating 98 kN of thrust, the Tejas Mk 2 will offer greater payload capacity, extended range, and superior combat capabilities compared to its Tejas and Tejas Mk1A predecessors. (Source: ThePrint)
