GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are marking four decades of partnership in India’s defence sector. The collaboration, which began in 1985, has led to the supply of aircraft and marine engines, avionics, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for the Indian military. Over the years, engineering, manufacturing, and material sourcing for these products have increasingly taken place in India.
The partnership began with a licensing agreement in 1986, allowing HAL to assemble, inspect, and test GE Aerospace’s LM2500 marine gas turbines in India. These engines have been integrated into Indian Navy vessels, including P17 stealth frigates, P17A advanced frigates, and the domestically built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022.
GE Aerospace has also supplied 65 F404 engines for India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1 program, with 99 more on order for the LCA Mk1A. The company’s F414-GE-INS6 engine has been selected for the LCA Mk2 and the prototype development of India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.
In June 2023, GE Aerospace and HAL announced plans for joint production of F414 engines in India. This agreement, made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States, includes provisions for technology transfer in areas such as additive manufacturing and advanced materials.
HAL Chairman and Managing Director D K Sunil stated that the collaboration integrates advanced aerospace technologies into India’s manufacturing capabilities, supporting the operational readiness of the Indian Armed Forces.
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