General Electric (GE) is aggressively pursuing a contract to supply engines for the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), also known as India's fifth-generation stealth fighter. This ambition underscores GE's view of India as a strategically vital market for both its civil and defense aerospace sectors. Larry Culp, GE's chairman and chief executive, conveyed the company's strong interest, highlighting the existing collaboration on the Tejas fighter program with the GE 404 engines. He emphasized the robust relationship between the US and India, signaling GE's commitment to supporting India's defense needs.
India's recent announcement of fast-tracking the development of its indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter has intensified the competition for engine supply. The high-thrust engine is a critical component and is likely to be developed through a joint venture with a foreign manufacturer. GE faces competition from other major players like Safran and Rolls-Royce for this prestigious contract.
In tandem with its pursuit of the AMCA engine deal, GE is also focused on ramping up deliveries of jet engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Mark-1A fighter. These deliveries had faced delays, primarily attributed to supply chain disruptions and the challenges of restarting a dormant production line for the F404-IN20 engines after a five-year gap.
In March 2025, GE Aerospace announced the delivery of the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL for the Tejas LCA Mk 1A. While this marked a significant milestone, it also highlighted the challenges of restarting the production line after it was shut down in 2016 due to a lack of continuous orders. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated the process. GE has been working closely with its suppliers to ramp up production of parts and materials. HAL anticipates receiving 12 F-404 engines this year.
The Indian Air Force is currently operating with 31 fighter squadrons, a shortfall from its sanctioned strength of 42.5 squadrons. The IAF is looking to add 35-40 fighter jets every year to address this gap. HAL has committed to producing 24 Tejas Mark-1A jets next year. The existing order of 87 LCA-Mk1A is expected to be completed in three and a half years, with an additional order for 97 jets to be fulfilled by FY31-32, achieving a production rate of 24 jets per year.
GE also intends to establish a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for civilian aircraft engines in India as the volume of engines in operation increases. GE currently has over 1,400 engines operating in India, powering both narrow and wide-body aircraft, with an order book for approximately 2,500 more engines. This substantial presence reinforces India's importance as a priority market for GE.
