HAL To Hold 5th Round Of Talks In US On GE F414 Engine Production For Tejas Mk2, AMCA
HAL moves closer to GE F414 engine deal, powering Tejas Mk2 and shaping India’s AMCA stealth fighter ambitions amid tech transfer talks with the US. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Amid ongoing trade tensions between India and the United States over tariffs, defence cooperation between the two nations remains on track.
According to sources, a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delegation will travel to the US later this month to hold the fifth round of discussions on the joint production of GE’s F414-INS6 engines in India.
The F414-INS6 engines will power the Tejas Mk2 fighter jets and the first tranche of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s next-generation stealth fighter.
Talks are progressing smoothly despite the economic frictions, with current discussions focused on technological collaboration. Cost negotiations are expected to follow in subsequent rounds.
What would HAL discuss with US officials?
Sources revealed that the agreement will include 80% technology transfer. However, the transfer will cover production processes rather than the design and development aspects.
To address this gap, India is set to collaborate with French aerospace major Safran to co-develop a new 120kN engine for the second tranche of the AMCA, a plan revealed earlier this year.
Representatives from General Electric and the US State Department are directly involved in the negotiations, underlining Washington’s strategic interest in the deal. India hopes to conclude the contract by late 2026.
What’s the HAL plan for Tejas Mk2?
HAL has already procured 10 F414 engines, though delays in design and certification have stalled production timelines. Limited series production of the Tejas Mk2 is now expected to begin in 2026, with its first flight scheduled for 2027. Following trials and certification, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to induct the fighter from 2031 onwards.
The Tejas Mk2 is being developed by HAL and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) as an advanced 4.5-generation single-engine multirole combat aircraft. It will replace the IAF’s ageing Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29 fleets.
Featuring a longer fuselage, close-coupled canards, and a powerful GE F414-INS6 engine producing 98 kN of thrust, the Tejas Mk2 will offer higher payload capacity, extended range, and improved combat performance compared to its Tejas and Tejas Mk1A predecessors.
