American aviation giant GE Aerospace has officially handed over the sixth F404-IN20 engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the TEJAS MK-1A fighter program.

This delivery marks a significant but slow progress point, as only six engines reached HAL during the fiscal year ending this Tuesday. This figure remains well below the eleven units originally promised under the revised delivery schedule.

“GE Aerospace has handed over the sixth F404-IN20 engine against the order from 2021. GE Aerospace and HAL continue to work closely to ensure clear line of sight of production schedules for the F404 engines,” read a statement by a spokesperson for GE Aerospace.

While GE confirmed the handover of the sixth engine against the 2021 contract, sources within HAL indicate that the hardware has not yet physically arrived in India.

It is believed the formal transfer of the unit likely took place at a facility in the United States. Both organisations maintain that they are working in close coordination to establish a clearer production and shipping timeline for the remaining powerplants.

Defence establishment sources suggest that the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has been cited as a primary factor for the supply chain disruptions.

These geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region have reportedly hampered the delivery of critical components, leading to the current backlog in the 99-engine contract signed five years ago.

The delivery timeline for the TEJAS MK-1A has seen several shifts. The first engine under this specific contract arrived in March last year, with the fifth following in December.

Despite initial projections, the induction of the first batch of aircraft into the Indian Air Force (IAF) is now anticipated for June or July this year. This represents a delay of over two years from the initial targets set when the deal for 83 aircraft was finalised in early 2021.

While the engine shortage is a significant hurdle, some industry insiders suggest that other technical challenges have contributed to the wait.

However, the Ministry of Defence and the IAF have recently moved to expedite the process by granting HAL certain contractual exemptions. This allows for the start of deliveries provided that essential milestones, such as missile-firing tests and radar integration, are met.

Reports indicate that missile firing trials are now complete, and the formal certification process is currently underway. HAL has noted that much of the remaining technical oversight falls under the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) rather than being a pure manufacturing delay.

Most major capability integrations are expected to receive certification by the end of April, after which the IAF will begin its final acceptance trials.

Agencies