Date : 23/06/2023

Relevance – GS Paper 2 – Bilateral Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Keywords – GE Aerospace, LCA Tejas, Technology transfer

Context

During the ongoing official State Visit to the US, a significant defence deal is expected to dominate the agenda of the Indian Prime Minister. The deal revolves around the collaboration between American manufacturing company General Electric (GE) Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the joint production of fighter jet engines in India.

Details of the Deal:

• Technology Sharing: The deal allows GE Aerospace to share critical technology with HAL for the manufacture of GE-F414 jet engines, which will power the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-II.
• Unprecedented Technology Transfer: Reports suggest that the US has agreed to transfer approximately 80% of the technology value to India, marking an unprecedented level of technology transfer.

Need for the Deal:

• India has made significant progress in various defence and space programs and has developed its own fighter jet, the LCA Tejas. However, the country has faced challenges in producing suitable engines to power these aircraft.

India's Quest for Indigenous Aero-Engines:

• Historical Efforts: India's pursuit of indigenous aero-engines began in the 1960s with the HF-24 Marut fighter jet, which faced limitations due to the lack of a suitable engine.
• The Kaveri Program: The Kaveri program, initiated in 1986, aimed to develop an indigenous military gas turbine engine for the LCA project. However, it failed to meet the necessary technical requirements despite significant expenditure.
• Interim Measure: As a temporary solution, India selected American GE-F404 engines for the LCA Tejas Mark-1.
• Selection of F414 Engines: In 2010, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) chose the more powerful F414 engines to power the Tejas Mark-2. However, the deal faced obstacles due to US domestic legislation and regulatory challenges.

Factors Leading to the Recent Deal:

• Strengthening US-India Defence Partnership: In 2016, the US recognized India as a major defence partner, facilitating the sharing of critical military equipment and technology.
• Strategic Technology Partnerships: A new framework to enhance strategic technology partnerships brought the GE-HAL deal into focus during the inaugural meeting of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

Features and Significance of the F414 Engine:

• Advanced Technology: The F414 engine incorporates a fully digital electronic system known as Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) and includes custom safety features to meet India's defence requirements.
• International Collaboration: The F414 engines are utilized in advanced combat aircraft worldwide, including Boeing's F-18 Super Hornet and Saab's JAS 39 Gripen.
• India's Aerospace Milestone: Once the deal is finalized, India will become the fifth country globally to produce jet engines, joining the ranks of the US, Russia, France, and the UK.
• Significance for India: The deal holds strategic importance for India in terms of strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing technological capabilities, countering China's influence, and replacing ageing Russian fighters with indigenously produced ones.

Conclusion:

The India-US defence deal for the manufacturing of fighter jet engines signifies a significant step in advancing indigenous aerospace capabilities. It has the potential to transform the defence manufacturing industry in India, enhance military capabilities, and foster high-tech cooperation amidst evolving global dynamics. Additionally, it offers an alternative to India's traditional dependence on Russian hardware and aligns with the country's goal of achieving self-reliance in defence.

Source - The Hindu