New Delhi, 31 August: The US Congress has approved the GE-414 aircraft engine deal signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s last US visit. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will now be able to manufacture the GE-414 engine in India through the transfer of technology. India has signed a deal with the US for 99 Ge-414 Tejas MK-2 fighter jets. 8 F-414 engines are already with HAL to make the prototype.
The much-awaited project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, on August 31 last year. After this, the prototype of the indigenous multirole fighter aircraft Tejas Mark-2 was expected to arrive by the end of this year, but the development of the prototype was hanging in the balance due to the non-finalisation of the engine. After the agreement to develop the GE-414 aircraft engine in India during Prime Minister Modi’s recent US visit, now the way has been cleared for the construction of the LCA Tejas Mark-2 with the approval of the US Congress.
In the same month, the Government of India approved the construction of six prototype aircraft of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark-II. DRDO has decided to power both the LCA Tejas Mark-II and the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) with the same engine. The Air Force has also given a green signal to the design of the fighter AMCA after conducting all kinds of tests. Many parts of the aircraft have already been made. Initially, a total of four prototypes will be built, and their first flight is scheduled for 2026. That is, then the fifth-generation indigenous fighter aircraft will land in the Indian sky and create a new stir among the enemies. With the approval of the CCS for the design and prototype development of the AMCA, the process of manufacturing the prototype of the AMCA would also be expedited.
Defence Ministry sources say that the prototype development of Tejas Mark-II is estimated to take around 5–6 years. HAL will manufacture 230 LCA Mark-II aircraft over a period of 15 years or more. This massive project is estimated to cost thousands of crores of rupees. Apart from boosting India’s indigenous aerospace capabilities, the LCA Mark-II programme will also strengthen the Air Force’s air fleet. The Indian Air Force may initially order 108 aircraft. Later, their final count may be 230, after which there will be 230 fighter aircraft in the Air Force fleet by 2030.
