With American F414/F404 Engine Families Set to Rule the Skies of India, Why India Needs to have Alternatives

40 Tejas Mk1 and 83 Tejas Mk1A will be powered by American developed F404-GE-IN20 after-burning engines to be followed up with F414-GE-INS6 after-burning engines which will be sourced for 200 Tejas MkII and it is also confirmed now that 40 AMCA Mk1 will also be powered by F414-GE-INS6 after-burning engines till a locally developed after-burning engine is ready for AMCA MkII. With 360+ jet to be powered by F414/F404 family engines in their lifetime whole fleet will require nearly 1300 engines and its number will only grow if India decides to stick with F414EPE engines for the AMCA MkII also. HAL plans to develop Lead-in fighter training (LIFT) based on trainer variant of the Tejas Mk1 which means more American engines. Read More…