New Delhi: The aerospace division of General Electric of USA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the joint production of potential F414 military fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
This MoU will reduce the dependency of India on Russia and European consortia for import of jet engines, media reports said.
The announcement came amidst the four day state visit of PM Modi to USA, which is historically and strategically very relevant.
Earlier in 1986, GE began working with HAL to produce F404 jet engines for India’s Light Combat Aircrafts (LCA). Currently, HAL is using GE 404 engines for the 83 light combat aircraft, it is manufacturing for IAF.
GE Aerospace’s F404 and F414 jet engines have been a part of the development and production of India’s LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk2.
PM Modi met the CEO of GE Aerospace’s Lawrence Culp Junior and extended his appreciation for the long term commitment of the company to India. GE has been operating in India over the last four decades in various fields like jet engines, avionics and engineering.
So far, 75 F404 engines haves been delivered for the LCA Mk1A programme and another 99 are being manufactured. Till now eight F414 engines have been delivered, GE official stated.
(With PTI Inputs)
