Congress Approves Landmark Fighter Jet Engines Defense Deal With India

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Congress has given the green light to the GE Aerospace – Hindustan Aeronautics Limited collaboration to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. The agreement involves the production of jet engines within India.

The Biden administration will now advance the agreement broached during Narendra Modi’s visit here, paving the way for unprecedented technology transfer, and licensing arrangements. The deal is viewed as a transformational one and more is expected to get firmed up when President Joe Biden visits India for the G20 summit.

This arrangement bridges the technology gap in jet engine development, and subsequently reinforces its defense capabilities, especially considering regional complexities, Indian media reported.

The agreement encompasses 80 percent technology transfer by GE, estimated to value around $1 billion.

This technology transfer is aimed to enhance the operational performance of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) MKII. The pact entails the joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India, under the Air Force’s Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 program.