India set to seal jet engine deals with GE, Safran in big leap for indigenous fighter power

In a twin breakthrough for India’s military aviation push, negotiations are set to begin with US defense major General Electric (GE) for the co-production of F414 fighter jet engines in India, even as French giant Safran has been finalised to develop a next-generation powerplant for the country’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Two years after state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and GE Aerospace inked a pact during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit, officials confirmed that commercial negotiations are likely to conclude within the next three months, paving the way for production of the F414 engines that will power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2.

The agreement — cleared by the US Congress last year — has been under negotiation since 2023, with Washington agreeing to transfer 80% of the engine technology. This includes 12 critical areas such as single-crystal turbine blade machining, advanced coatings for high-temperature components, and blisk machining. However, a few sensitive technologies remain withheld.

“Despite these limitations, the deal is on track and should be signed by year-end,” an official said, adding that production could begin within three years to align with Mk2 orders and prototype testing.

Meanwhile, in a parallel stride towards self-reliance, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has tied up with Safran to co-develop a higher-thrust advanced engine for the AMCA, India’s most ambitious indigenous stealth fighter project. The proposal, with full technology transfer, will soon go before the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed Safran’s role during a forum in New Delhi, while Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day address, called on young scientists and engineers to take up the challenge of designing indigenous jet engines — likening it to India’s success in vaccine production and digital payments.

Despite decades of effort, India has yet to master the metallurgy and design complexity of combat jet engines, a feat achieved by only a handful of nations. With the GE-HAL and DRDO-Safran deals, officials believe the country may finally be closing the gap.