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The deal to make Tejas MK2 engine in India may be finalized during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America. Till now India’s indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas uses General Electric (GE) engines of America. Now GE plans to make fighter jet engines in India. This deal is going to be government to government between India and America. The deal could be finalized during the visit of US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin to India next week. During the meeting with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in Austin, the two countries may also agree to buy 30 MQ-9B armed drones from General Atomics. According to sources, the Air Information Sharing Agreement between India and Australia may also be discussed during this meeting.
American company wants to make engine in India
According to media reports, GE Aerospace, a subsidiary of General Electric, has been discussing plans to develop jet engine technology in India for more than a year. The deal is likely to be announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US next month. PM Modi will go on an official state visit to the US from June 21 to 24, where he will be hosted by President Joe Biden himself at the White House. In January this year, after talks on the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) in Washington, the White House said it had received an application from GE to jointly manufacture aircraft engines in India. The first round of ICET meeting was held in Washington DC between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his American counterpart Jake Sullivan.
Made in India engine will be installed in Tejas MK2
Following the agreement, General Electric will manufacture GE’s F414 jet engine in India. This will strengthen Make in India and Self-reliant India scheme. GE’s F414 engine will be fitted to the Tejas MK2. Currently, the Tejas MK1 variant uses the GE F404 jet engine from General Electric. India is already planning to have 114 multirole fighter jets in collaboration with foreign manufacturers. The US has also said that it is ready for a full transfer of jet engine technology with India. This was announced by US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall during his visit to India in March. Then he met NSA Doval and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar.
