India’s Tejas Mk-2 fighter may not stay tied to an imported engine forever. A senior DRDO official has said the indigenous 120 kN-class engine being developed for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) could also power the Tejas Mk-2, including during future mid-life upgrades.
Why the F414 Deal Matters?
The Tejas Mk-2 is designed around General Electric’s F414-INS6, a 98 kN-class engine and a major step up from the F404 that powers earlier Tejas variants. GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an MoU in June 2023, during PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington, to co-produce F414 engines in India. The US completed its congressional notification in late August 2023.
More than three years later, the deal remains unfinished. The Ministry of Defence has sought around 80% technology transfer, but the real sticking point is depth. Manufacturing and overhaul know-how is not the same as access to core intellectual property or the design authority to modify and upgrade the engine independently.
The first tranche proposes local manufacture of 99 F414 engines, while the IAF is expected to need 120-130 Tejas Mk-2 jets. The F414 is also the interim engine for AMCA, with 14-15 engines needed for prototypes and limited-series aircraft.
DRDO’s Contingency Plan
If F414 co-production does not go through, GE-supplied engines will still power Tejas Mk-2 prototypes and early production batches. The aircraft’s design allows a later switch to the 120 kN engine, possibly timed with a mid-life upgrade. The extra thrust could improve acceleration, payload capacity, energy retention in combat and future growth potential.
To build a domestic industrial base, DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) has issued an Expression of Interest seeking an Indian Development-cum-Production Partner for an indigenous advanced high-thrust class aero engine.
Lessons from the Kaveri Programme
The Kaveri engine never met the performance and reliability standards needed to power the Tejas in service. Still, it gave India valuable experience in engine design, testing, materials and systems integration. The 120 kN programme is a more mature, better-resourced attempt, backed by stronger private-sector participation.
Why It Matters for Defence Aspirants
Indigenous defence technology is a recurring theme in NDA and CDS GAT current affairs and SSB group discussions. At Major Kalshi Classes, our faculty helps aspirants turn developments like this into well-informed answers and confident lecturettes.
