India is currently having its deliberations with the United States to speed up the delivery of F404 engines, which are important for the locally made Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. The first deliveries were delayed, and so far, only two engines have arrived from General Electric (GE), more than a year late.
A third engine is expected this month. GE has promised to send one engine a month, and from October, two engines each month.
F404 Engine Deal Paused Due to Tariff Issues?
Besides pushing ahead with the order for 99 F404 engines for the Tejas Mk1A, talks are also ongoing for another order for 97 more Tejas Mk1A jets, already approved by the Ministry of Defence. The deal for these extra engines is expected to be finalised by the end of August.
A report in India Today stated that the engine procurement process for the first 99 Tejas Mk1A fighters is being expedited, and discussions are underway regarding a follow-on order for 97 additional fighters, which has already been approved by the Ministry of Defence.
India is also trying to secure a deal for F414 engines from the US, which will power more advanced jets like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Tejas Mk2. Technical talks for the F414 engines are finished, but it may still take months to reach a final agreement.
India-US defence deal in limbo?
The development comes amid speculations that India might either pause or cancel defence deals amid the ongoing tussle with the USA on the tariff issue. Government sources have called reports of cancelled deals ‘false and made up’, saying no defence deals have been stopped, and everything is continuing as normal.
An American team is expected to visit India next month to negotiate defence purchases. Government sources have denied rumours that India is halting orders for US defence equipment, stating that discussions are still ongoing regarding the Indian Navy’s order of six more P8I aircraft from the US, as per the India Today report.
Why Was Air Chief Marshal Worried?
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has raised concerns about delays in obtaining critical military equipment due to manufacturers’ production limitations. These setbacks affect both defence programmes and commercial aviation. While measures are being taken to mitigate the impact, resolving supply chain challenges will require more time.
During an event in February, the Chief of the Air Staff remarked that the Indian Air Force requires an annual intake of 35 to 40 fighter aircraft to address the shortfall in numbers. He noted that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has committed to delivering 24 Tejas Mark-1A jets next year.