GE Aerospace signs MOU with HAL to make fighter jet engines for IAF

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: GE Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force on Thursday.

The deal was unveiled during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the United States and represents a significant step in advancing defence cooperation between the two countries. If the U.S. government grants the required export clearance, the MOU mentions the prospective collaborative manufacturing of F414 engines from GE Aerospace in India.

This collaboration is part of the Indian Air Force's Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 program. H Lawrence Culp, Jr, Chairman and CEO of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace, expressed pride in playing a role in advancing the vision of closer coordination between the US and India. “This is a historic agreement made possible by our longstanding partnership with India and HAL,” said H Lawrence.

“We are proud to play a role in advancing President Biden and Prime Minister Modi’s vision of closer coordination between the two nations. Our F414 engines are unmatched and will offer important economic and national security benefits for both countries as we help our customers produce the highest quality engines to meet the needs of their military fleet.”

GE Aerospace has a longstanding partnership with India and HAL, having operated in the country for over four decades, engaging in various aspects of the industry. GE Aerospace has previously provided F404 engines and is presently working on the continuous development of F414 engines to support India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programmes.