General Electric Company (GE Aerospace) on Wednesday, March 26, delivered the first of its 99 F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fighter jet. This will strengthen India's defense capabilities and give the Indian Air Force (IAF) more power.
"We were excited to deliver the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to our valued customer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fight jet. It is an important milestone in our 40-year relationship with HAL and in our efforts to ensure a strong future for India’s military by developing next-generation fighters while enhancing the country’s defence manufacturing capabilities," GE Aerospace said in a statement released on Wednesday, reported by the news agency ANI.
GE Aerospace and HAL have been partners in manufacturing defense equipment for the IAF and military for over 10 years. In 2004, GE Aerospace’s F404-IN20 engine was selected for the single-engine Tejas, an important breakthrough for both India and GE Aerospace.
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The F404 engine family, one of the most successful in military aviation history, powers thousands of combat aircraft worldwide. The F404-IN20 engine is a tailored design for India’s single-engine fighter. It has the highest thrust within the F404 family, a higher-flow fan, unique single-crystal turbine blades, and numerous special components.
GE Aerospace and Tejas teams collaborated closely for several years to customize the F404 for the Indian Air Force's needs. The F404 demonstrated that it was an excellent fit for the Tejas LCA. On its first test flight in 2008, the aircraft climbed to numerous mission altitudes and achieved Mach 1.1 speed.