On Thursday, the aerospace unit of industrial giant General Electric (GE.N) announced it had signed an agreement with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics (HIAE.NS) to jointly make engines in India to power fighter jets for the Indian Air Force. The deal is a significant step in US-India defense cooperation and signals that Washington is comfortable with India producing military technology on its own. It also could help the Indian Air Force wean itself from relying on Russian military equipment.
GE said the MoU with HAL would build on the firm’s previous work to supply 99 F414 engines to power the country’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Mk-2 jet fighter. The US company will transfer its single-crystal aerofoil engine technology to HAL and some underlying components, including the fuel management system. The deal is expected to lead to additional work for GE’s US facilities that support the development and production of F414 engines, the company said.
The deal is significant because it marks the first time a US company has agreed to let an overseas partner produce its advanced jet engines, which could transform the global aviation industry. It comes amid growing concern that China is gaining an edge in developing its cutting-edge technologies. The United States seeks to deepen ties with India to counterbalance rising Chinese influence.
But the deal could be complicated because it will require US government and congressional approvals and involve sharing a sensitive technology that has never been shared with non-allies. The engines used in US military aircraft are complex and include specialized materials, coatings, and manufacturing processes that are profoundly IPR-protected and tightly controlled. They also have a high level of performance that requires exceptional engineering to manage the very high temperatures they operate at.
Until now, the only way that India has been able to develop and build its military aircraft was to buy them from other countries, usually Russia or European consortiums. But it can produce jet engines. In that case, it will boost India’s technological capacity and send a strong message to Beijing that it can now compete with the world’s top militaries. That will help the country ward off criticism from some lawmakers that it is seeking to become an international arms dealer. It will also free India from heavy reliance on foreign suppliers and give it more flexibility to adjust its defense strategy as circumstances change. This is one of the most significant outcomes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark state visit to the United States this week. He and President Joe Biden made a public commitment to closer defense cooperation in the future. This announcement by GE is another sign that the two leaders’ vision for closer coordination on critical issues is coming to fruition.
