One of Six GE F404 Engines Supplied for India’s Tejas Mk1A Reportedly Found Defective
One of the six F404 fighter jet engines supplied by U.S.-based GE Aerospace for India’s Tejas Mk1A light combat aircraft has reportedly been found defective, raising concerns over further delays to the fighter jet program.
According to reports, the engine was delivered to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is manufacturing the Tejas Mk1A aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Following the discovery of the defect, authorities are expected to carry out an extensive technical inspection of the engines.
Sources indicated that the issue may be linked to potential manufacturing defects in the initial batch of GE Aerospace’s new production run, including suspected microcracks in turbine blades or turbine discs.
If confirmed, the defect could further delay the delivery schedule of the Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft while engineers complete inspections and any necessary corrective measures. Neither GE Aerospace nor Indian authorities have publicly confirmed the reported defect.
