Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Thursday confirmed that five LCA Mk1a fighter jets are fully ready and an additional nine aircraft have already been built and flown.
In a significant development for the indigenous fighter aircraft programme, the 4.5 generation plus LCA Mark 2 fighter jets will start flying by March 2026 and its mass production will begin by 2029.
Gas Turbine Research Establishment-- a DRDO lab involved in the development of indigenous engines-- would be part of the proposed deal with American GE for manufacturing jet engines in India, which would help them gain expertise in the field, government officials said.
US GE is open to the transfer of technology to India for the indigenous manufacture of engines for light combat aircraft LCA Mark2 by 2028 as it does not want to lose a big market o Europe.
The first of the Air India aircraft with GE engines is expected to be service ready in 2023 itself, Vikram Rai - Country Head, South Asia and Indonesia of GE Aerospace told ANI in an exclusive interview.
Air India, part of Tata Sons, has signed a firm order for 40 GEnx-1B and 20 GE9X engines, plus a multi-year TrueChoice™ engine services agreement. The deal was signed in coordination with the airline's firm order for 20 Boeing 787 and 10 Boeing 777X aircraft.