The Forum Post and The Times of India reported on April 13 that India and the United States have reached their first military technology transfer agreement, under which they will jointly produce jet engines. It is reported that General Electric (GE) of the U.S. has entered into multiple military collaborations with India. First, GE will transfer nearly 80% of the manufacturing technology and intellectual property rights for the F-414 engine to India. Compared to the F404-IN20 engine currently used in India’s indigenous Tejas Mark-1A fighter aircraft, the F-414 offers higher power output and may be integrated into the next-generation Tejas Mark-2 aircraft. Analysts note this marks the first such technology transfer agreement between the U.S. and India; previously, only the Soviet Union (Russia) had permitted India to manufacture engines for MiG series and Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. Second, a maintenance station for the F404-IN20 engine will be established in India, owned, operated, and maintained by the Indian Air Force, with GE providing only technical support, training, and personnel. Third, GE will supply engines for certain patrol aircraft and helicopters, as well as LM2500 marine gas turbines for India’s INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and P-17 Shivalik-class frigates. Notably, GE had committed to delivering 11 F404 engines to India during the fiscal year 2025–26, but actually delivered only 6. Analysts indicate that the delayed delivery of engines has hindered the expansion of India’s air force fleet, reducing the number of operational squadrons from an ideal 42 to just 29—insufficient to sustain operations on two fronts.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862531790124040/
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