General Electric (GE) Aerospace is set to deliver four GE F404-IN20 engines to India between October and December 2026, as confirmed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The scheduled arrival of these powerplants addresses critical supply chain bottlenecks that previously constrained the serial production and delivery schedules of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A. The engine deliveries will provide immediate momentum to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as it accelerates airframe integration, completes pending system trials, and prepares initial operational units for handover to the Indian Air Force.
Alongside the engine update, the Defence Ministry outlined clear milestone roadmaps for India's broader combat aircraft development pipeline. The Tejas Mk-2—a 17.5-ton medium-weight fighter featuring higher payload capacity, GE F414 engines, Uttam AESA radar, and 13 hardpoints—is targeted for its first flight between June and September 2027 to eventually replace aging Jaguar, Mirage-2000, and MiG-29 fleets. Furthermore, the prototype of the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is scheduled for its maiden flight in September 2028, reinforcing long-term self-reliance in military aviation.
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