In 2021, Indian aerospace company, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), signed a $716 million contract for 99 General Electric F404 engines GE Aviation that will be used to power 73 LCA-Tejas Mk1A and 10 Tejas Mk1A Trainer aircraft.
GE Aviation will commence deliveries of the first batch of F404-GE-IN20 engines later this year and deliveries will continue once the production of LCA-Tejas Mk1A jets takeoff.
GE Aviation plans to deliver the last batch of F404-GE-IN20 engines in 2029 as HAL and IAF Plan to keep around 14-16 engines as a backup.
READ MORE: India’s Tactical Interdiction & Attack Air Vehicle (TIA-AV 50) Mystery Program
HAL had placed the first order for 17 F404-GE-IN20 engines to power a limited series of operational production aircraft and naval prototypes in 2004 and In 2007, an additional 24 F404-GE-IN20 afterburning engines to power the first operational squadron of Tejas fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
Earlier 8 F404-F2J3 were extensively used on LCA-Tejas Technology Demonstrator and Prototype Vehicles.
The F404-GE-IN20 is the highest-rated F404 model and includes a higher-flow fan, increased thrust, a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) system, single-crystal turbine blades and a variety of single-engine features.