NEW DELHI: With US major General Electric (GE) now finally delivering the first of the 99 contracted engines for Tejas Mark-1A fighters after a delay of around two years, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is expected to step-up production of the much-delayed indigenous jet. HAL will, of course, also have to resolve other developmental issues like the pending test-firing of the Astra air-to-air missile from the single-engine Tejas Mark-1A and integration of a couple of critical systems, which have all contributed to production delays. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh in recent weeks has publicly lashed out at the defence PSU, noting that his force was “very badly off in numbers” and needs to induct at least 40 fighters every year to stay combat ready.
TOI had earlier reported that the first of the 99 F-404 turbofan engines , which HAL contracted for Rs 5,375 crore in Aug 2021, would come in March, with GE promising to deliver 12 engines in the first year and 20 every year thereafter. Also read: India plans to crank up Tejas production to stem IAF’s depletion in fighters GE Aerospace on Wednesday announced it had delivered the first engine to HAL, which entailed the “complex and challenging task” of re-starting the F-404 production line after it had remained dormant for five years and re-engaging with the global supply chain for it. HAL, on its part, contends it can progressively scale up production to 20 Tejas per year, and then to 24 per year, with the third producti.
