Now HAL must strive to equip IAF with six Squadrons of Tejas Mk2 by 2030
After the GE-HAL MoU is signed tomorrow, the Indian PSU will have to meet the challenge of manufacturing 500 engines for MK-2, AMCA, TEDBF fighters.
The ADA and the parent organization the DRDO is now fully confident that it will deliver a fully tested and certified MK-2 prototype on time to HAL for production, The pressure will now be on HAL to energize the workers of PSU to meet the challenge ahead.
Even as the engine will have to be produced by GE-HAL, the government may think of a special purpose vehicle to produce 120 MK-2 fighters by 2030 to meet the deadlines of the IAF.
On the eve of historic India-US F-414 jet engine deal, both Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have geared up to start series production of TEJAS MK-2 fighter by 2027-28 with the ADA ready to roll out the prototype by 2024 end.
The GE-F414 engine, which will be manufactured in India under 100 per cent transfer of technology (TOT) will power not only TEJAS MK-2 but twin engine advanced multi-role combat aircraft (AMCA-I) and twin-engine deck based fighter (TEDBF).
India has plans to produce at least six squadrons of MK-2 fighters by 2030 for the Indian Air Force after 83 F-404 powered TEJAS MK-1A have been produced and handed over to the military. With eight GE-F414 jet engines already procured by the ADA, design frozen, critical design review already approved by the IAF, the agency will roll out the MK-2 prototype by 2024 end for testing and operational clearance.
The national security apparatus of India has been able to deliver on GE-F414 engine through the “Make in India” route. Now the HAL has to set up for the upcoming challenge and focus on manufacturing the GE engine as no less that 500 aircraft engines have to be produced in India.
It is understood that the HAL Bengaluru division and even the Nashik division may be tasked to take up the job and start production in collaboration with the GE. HAL already has experience in manufacturing aircraft engines as it was assembling AL31-FP afterburning turbofan engines for Russian Su-30MKI assembly in India.
According to experts, HAL will fully focus on production of MK-2 fighter as well as GE-414 engine after the production line of MK-IA tapers off.
The American defence major General Electric and HAL will sign an MoU for manufacture of F-414 engine on July 22 and exchange instruments before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in Washington.
