General Electric will conduct the first ground run of its F404-GE-IN20 engine for India's Tejas light combat aircraft in May, shortly after its expected receipt of an order for up to 40 additional units. The company, which is already under contract to deliver 17 IN20s to India from early 2006 under a limited series production deal worth $105 million, was in mid-February notified that the power plant will equip the Indian air force's first 20 - and potentially 40 - Tejas fighters, because of the delayed availability of the indigenous Kaveri engine (Flight International, 15-21 February).
India's Aeronautical Development Agency has conducted over 360 test flights of its three Tejas prototypes, using seven F404-F2J3 engines, which GE Military Systems' vice-president Chuck Nugent says have "performed extremely well so far". The Indian air force intends to field later production examples of the single-engine Tejas with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment Kaveri, but the lifting of US sanctions against India makes the 19,000lb (84.5kN) GE power plant a strong alternative should the indigenous system suffer continued development problems.
GE has provided Hindustan Aeronautics with a list of components that it could potentially produce for the up to 40 IN20 engines, with a deal expected to be concluded before the air force signs for its initial 20 aircraft.
Nugent says GE has also offered to provide technical assistance on the Kaveri, but that New Delhi has so far declined its offer. Other Western suppliers are keen to support the Kaveri engine, with the USA's Stein Seal in discussion with its developers to provide main shaft seals.
CRAIG HOYLE / BANGALORE
Source: Flight International
