New Delhi: India signed a deal on Friday to buy 113 engines from General Electric to power an advanced variant of its home-produced Tejas fighter jets, in a sign of warming ties with the U.S. following months of tariff-induced tensions.
The Tejas Mk-1A fighters are crucial for India’s efforts to shore up its air force’s depleting fighter squadrons and replace ageing jets in the face of neighbouring China’s growing military strength and support for New Delhi’s arch-rival Pakistan.
But the rollout of the fighter has been delayed due to slow deliveries from GE of 99 engines ordered in 2021, of which only four have arrived so far. GE has blamed supply chain issues following COVID-19.
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