GE Aerospace Delivers Sixth F404 Engine to HAL, But Tejas Mk1A Program Still Trails Behind Schedule

US aviation powerhouse GE Aerospace has officially handed over its sixth F404-IN20 engine to India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), marking another incremental step in the long-running Tejas Mk1A fighter jet program. However, the milestone comes with a significant caveat — the delivery falls well short of the targets that were set for the financial year ending March 31, 2025. Despite a revised target of 11 engine units for the fiscal year, GE managed to deliver only six, underscoring the persistent supply chain disruptions that have plagued this high-profile defence procurement program. The shortfall has raised fresh concerns about the pace of India's indigenous fighter jet development and the Indian Air Force's (IAF) fleet modernisation ambitions. A GE Aerospace spokesperson confirmed that this latest handover is part of the original 2021 procurement agreement and emphasised that the company remains in active dialogue with HAL to track production schedules and make future deliveries more consistent and predictable. Despite the reassurances, the situation on the ground reflects a programme under strain. Notably, the sixth engine has not