New Delhi: GE Aerospace has signed a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to establish a domestic depot for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of F404-IN20 turbofan engines — the powerplant behind India's indigenously developed Tejas light combat aircraft.
The announcement, made on April 13, 2026, marks a significant step in the IAF's push to build self-sufficient sustainment infrastructure for its frontline fighter fleet.
Under the agreement, the depot facility will be owned, operated, and maintained by the IAF.
GE Aerospace will supply technical inputs, training, support personnel, and the necessary spares and specialized tooling. Once operational, the centre is expected to eliminate the need to ship engines overseas for major servicing - a dependency that has historically slowed aircraft availability and strained logistics.
The F404-IN20 is a derivative of GE's widely used F404 turbofan, adapted for the Tejas Mk1. India operates the aircraft under its Light Combat Aircraft programme - one of the longest-running indigenous military aviation projects in the country's history.
The IAF currently flies the Tejas Mk1 in two squadrons, with additional orders placed for the upgraded Mk1A variant. Reducing engine downtime through in-country depot capability is considered critical to sustaining operational readiness as the fleet expands.
Rita Flaherty, vice president of sales and business development for defence and systems at GE Aerospace, said the company's focus was on building local sustainment capacity for the Tejas fleet.
“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 the technology to power their defence needs,” Flaherty said.
The deal deepens what GE describes as a four-decade partnership with the IAF.
Beyond the Tejas, GE Aerospace engines power a range of Indian military platforms: the navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and MH-60R multi-role helicopters operate on GE powerplants, as do the IAF’s AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
On the naval side, GE’s LM2500 marine gas turbines drive the INS Vikrant - India’s first domestically built aircraft carrier and the P-17 Shivalik-class guided-missile frigates.
The move comes amid India’s broader push to localize defence production and reduce import dependence under the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative.
The ministry of defence has in recent years mandated progressively higher levels of indigenous content in military procurement, creating pressure on foreign original equipment manufacturers to shift maintenance and manufacturing activities into the country.
