New Delhi: Amid the tensions between the US and India over tariffs, the defence partnership between the two countries continues. ThePrint has learnt that a delegation of state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be going to America later month to hold the fifth round of talks for the joint production plan of the GE F414-INS6 engines in India.
The engines are meant for the Tejas Mk 2 and the first tranche of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Sources in the defence and security establishment said that the talks are going on smoothly despite the tensions over the tariffs. They added the talks are currently on the technological collaboration that is to be undertaken and the cost negotiations will come in later.
The deal will come with 80 percent technology transfer. However, sources in the know explained that the technology transfer is related to production and not the design and development elements.
For that India will tie up with French firm Safran and will together design, develop and produce a new 120KN engine that will power the second tranche of the AMCA, as reported in August.
The sources also said that during the engine discussions, officials from both the General Electric and the US State Department are present.
India is hopeful that the contract for the joint production of the F-414 engines will be inked later next year. Incidentally, India already has 10 F-414 engines that the HAL had bought earlier as part of its production plan which has been delayed due to certain design and certification issues.
It is now expected that the limited series production of the Tejas Mk 2 will begin next year and the first flight will take place in 2027. Trials and certification will take another three years. The Tejas Mk 2, which the Indian Air Force (IAF) is interested in, is expected to be inducted from 2031 onwards.
The Tejas Mk2 will be an advanced 4.5-generation single-engine multirole combat aircraft being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL. It is meant to replace India’s Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29 fighter fleet.
The fighter will come with a longer fuselage, close-coupled canards for improved manoeuvrability, and a more powerful GE F414-INS6 engine producing 98 kN of thrust compared to the Tejas and Tejas Mk1A versions. The additional features will allow the aircraft to have a higher payload, extended range and improved combat performance.
(Edited by Tony Rai)