"The engine blues for Tejas"
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has rebuffed reports that India has invoked penalties against the US jet engine manufacturer #GEAerospace which signed a $716 million deal with HAL in 2021 for 99 F404 engine for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A. The contract is between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and GE Aerospace.
The false reportage was based on the delays from GE and the speculations that the government might impose a penalty. However, it is a pertinent fact that there is an inherent clause – Liquidity Damage –which is embedded in such high stake deals through government-to-government (G-to-G) routes and many cases of military procurement. According to the contract, the first tranche of the jet engines was supposed to start by 2023.
GE has committed to start delivering the engines (F404) for LCA Tejas Mk1A by March/April 2025.
GE is the world's greatest company but has the GE's Indian leadership tackled the situation nicely?? A Question mark?
The delay has certainly caused the #IAF to red-flag the issues at the highest level, leading to multiple talks with the firms and officials from the MoD, India.
The first in the Tejas Mk1A series (LA 5033) flew. However, it did fly with another 'used engine'.
India aims for self-reliance in jet engine technology, with projects like the AMCA and Tejas Mk2, while partnerships with GE, Rolls-Royce, and Safran are seen as pathways to develop advanced engine technology.
IAF Chief ACM AP Singh said: "It is a known fact that the Tejas aircraft has been delayed. If the promise of producing 24 aircraft per year is kept, that delay can be addressed. We need to look at private players coming in. Again, HAL also has been ramping up its production line in Nasik. In its existing capacity in Bangalore, the HAL can produce 16 aircraft with the added capacity of 4-5 at the Nasik base."
What caused the delay?
Firstly, reports suggest the #supplychain constraint of the components and Korean entity going out of assembly line.
GE has agreed to supply its newer F414 engines for the Tejas Mk2 for joint production in India, though questions around Intellectual Property (IP) rights remain unresolved.
It is pertinent to note that the jet engine involves the most complex integration of critical parts which requires the highest order of precision and certification.
The only solution is the Self-Reliance for jet engine for which India has been striving for.
How is the establishment gripping with the possibilities especially that IAF is looking at 500 aircraft in coming decades? Two key projects are already in the pipeline—AMCA and Tejas 2.
The three giants of global engine manufacturers: Rolls-Royce, GE and Safran— each have a working mechanism with the Indian aerospace entity HAL for a variety of aircraft and helicopters. Read all as I write:
#defence #aerospace Ministry of Defence of India #jetengine #tejas Indian Air Force Safran #makeinindia Rolls-Royce India #trump
