F404-IN20 engine maintenance: GE Aerospace and Indian Air Force set up Tejas depot facility

GE Aerospace has confirmed a contract with the Indian Air Force to set up a maintenance facility for F404-IN20 jet engines. These engines power India’s Tejas light combat aircraft fleet. The company said the new depot is expected to reduce reliance on overseas repair centres. GE Aerospace added that the move should improve engine turnaround time once the site becomes operational.

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The depot facility is set to be owned, operated, and maintained by the Indian Air Force. GE Aerospace said it will provide technical inputs, training, support staff, and required spares. The company also plans to supply specialised equipment for the work. The arrangement is aimed at supporting India’s indigenous defence sustainment effort, according to GE Aerospace.

GE Aerospace F404-IN20 engine depot and Tejas sustainment

GE Aerospace said it supplies F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). HAL manufactures the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft jets. The company said the upcoming depot will help keep engines available for the Indian Air Force. It also said the facility is intended to cut delays linked to overseas servicing and repairs.

"Our commitment to supporting Indias armed forces continues to guide our collaboration and partnership in expanding local sustainment capabilities of the Tejas fleet,\" said Rita Flaherty, Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Defence and Systems at GE Aerospace. \"Through the upcoming depot facility, we will support the availability of the F404-IN20 engines for the Indian Air Force, ensuring they have ready access to cutting-edge technology to power their defence needs,\" she said.

The announcement comes amid concerns within India’s defence establishment about delays in deliveries of F404-IN20 engines to HAL. The Indian Air Force is in the process of inducting more Tejas jets. The Tejas Mk-1A programme is central to that plan, as the service seeks to add aircraft in the coming years.

GE Aerospace F404-IN20 engine support amid Tejas Mk-1A orders

In February 2021, the defence ministry signed a Rs 48,000-crore agreement with HAL to buy 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets. In September last year, the ministry closed another deal worth Rs 62,370 crore. That second contract covered 97 Tejas MK-1A light combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

The Tejas aircraft has been designed for air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles. The Indian Air Force is seeking these warplanes as fighter squadron strength has fallen. The number has dropped to 29 squadrons from the officially sanctioned level of 42, according to the details shared in the statement.

GE Aerospace F404-IN20 engine links to wider India aerospace ecosystem

GE Aerospace said it remains committed to building India’s aerospace ecosystem across design, development, manufacturing, and sustainment. The company said 150 engineers have completed its local two-year Edison Engineering Development Programme. GE Aerospace also said skilling efforts over 10 years trained over 5000 people in core manufacturing skills at its Pune factory.

In September 2025, the GE Aerospace Foundation partnered with United Way to launch Next Engineers in Bengaluru. GE Aerospace said it is a four-year college and career readiness programme. The programme is expected to support 4000 young engineering aspirants, as part of the company’s stated local development efforts.

GE Aerospace engines are also used on other Indian military platforms besides Tejas. The company said its engines power the Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and MH60R helicopters. It also said GE engines power the Indian Air Force’s AH-64 Apache helicopter. GE Aerospace added that LM2500 marine gas turbines power INS Vikrant and P-17 Shivalik Class frigates.

With inputs from PTI