GE delivers first engine for indigenous LCA Mk1a

indigenous fighter jet, the light combat aircraft Mk1a, has been delivered, marking the start of supplies that had been delayed due to supply chain constraints. GE Aerospace has handed over the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines on order to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and a total of 12 engines are expected to be sent this year.

The supply of LCA Mk1a to the Air Force has been delayed by over a year as the engines could not come on time due to disruptions in global supply chains faced by the American vendor. The Air Force has placed an order for 83 jets on HAL, which now plans to gradually ramp up production, taking it to 24 aircraft a year.

GE acknowledged the delays in supplies, saying that it shut down the production line for engines in 2016 when earlier orders had been fulfilled and restarting it was a complex task. The company added that the delivery of the first engine is an important milestone and it will continue to work with suppliers to keep the production line efficient.

«Restarting the F404-IN20 engine line during Covid pandemic was even more challenging. With a high focus on safety and quality, and a remarkable commitment from our supply chain teams and our suppliers and partners, we have managed to restart the line,» Shawn Warren, general manager, Combat & Trainer Engines, GE Aerospace, said.

The executive said that the engine is one the most successful in military aviation history and the variant delivered has been particularly made for the Indian requirement. «The F404-IN20 engine is a tailored design for India's single-engine fighter, with the highest thrust within the F404 family and a higher-flow fan, unique single-crystal turbine blades, and numerous special components,» he said.

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