HAL chief says India-US fighter engine talks continue despite tariff dispute: Report

Talks between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and US aerospace giant General Electric (GE) to co-produce the GE-414 fighter jet engine are progressing steadily and have not been disrupted by the recent trade tensions between India and the United States, confirmed HAL chairman and managing director CB Ananthakrishnan.

The clarification comes amid concern that Washington’s announcement of new tariffs on a range of imports—including certain Indian products—and New Delhi’s reciprocal measures might spill over into the defence sector.

“The tariff issue has no bearing on our negotiations. Technical and commercial discussions on the engine programme are continuing as planned,” Ananthakrishnan said, according to the Indian Express.

The GE-414 engine is intended for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-II and the upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The partnership, first outlined during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit in 2023, is expected to involve significant technology transfer, enabling production of the engines in India and boosting domestic defence manufacturing.

India’s Defence Ministry has set an ambitious timeline for the LCA Mk-II’s first flight later this decade. Officials have said that finalizing the engine agreement with GE is critical to meeting those deadlines.

Both sides have already concluded a memorandum of understanding and are now negotiating specific work-share and pricing details.

While the US-India tariff standoff has strained trade relations, defence cooperation between the two countries has continued to deepen.

Joint military exercises, high-level dialogues, and the implementation of the 2023 roadmap for defence industrial cooperation remain on schedule.

Industry analysts note that a successful engine deal would mark a major step toward reducing India’s reliance on Russian equipment and strengthening strategic ties with Washington, even as New Delhi maintains a non-aligned foreign policy.