India and the United States are close to finalising a deal for the co-production of GE-414 jet engines. The agreement is expected to be signed by the end of the financial year.
The GE-414 engines will power the Indian-made HAL Tejas Mk2 jets, which are planned for induction into the Indian Air Force within four years.
The joint production of the jet engine would be undertaken by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and GE Aerospace.
Regional observers and experts are warning of the long-term consequences. With over 400 Tejas jets planned over the next decade, India will have the ability to further increase instability in the region.
Experts say this could lead to aggressive behaviour by the current BJP-led government, which has used military action in the past to build political support. The most recent example is the debacle known as Operation Sindoor which led to India losing multiple of its high-tech fighter jets.
The concern is that advanced platforms like the LCA Mark 2 could be used in future operations against Pakistan under political or electoral motives.
The deal also fits into a larger pattern of increasing US–India military cooperation. India has already received the second GE-404 engine for the LCA Mark 1A jets and is expecting 12 more. The IAF has ordered 83 units and is seeking approval for 97 more.
Observers say this growing air power may not improve peace in the region. Instead, it could fuel an arms race between two nuclear states. The US is being urged to reconsider the risks of enabling such capabilities under a government with a record of mixing politics with national security.
The LCA jets are meant to replace India’s older Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29 fleets by 2035. High-level reviews of the programme are ongoing. Prime Minister Modi’s principal secretary recently visited HAL’s Bengaluru facility to assess progress.
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