General Electric Co. plans to jointly manufacture F414 engines with state-owned Indian firm Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. for the Tejas light-combat aircraft, as part of an effort to improve defense- and technology-sharing as China becomes more assertive in the Indo-Pacific.
In June this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden announced a series of defense and commercial deals designed to improve military and economic ties between their nations during Modi's state visit at the White House.
At the end of India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said, "....we have a very thriving defence cooperation between the two countries. While the purchases have been going for quite some time .... Under that, as you know, during Prime Minister's visit to the US the F414 was agreed to by the US government".
"Under that, we are finalizing the commercial arrangement and the necessary legal requirements are being put in place. So this is on track. It will happen as was originally scheduled." Regarding the MQ-9B HAIL i.e high altitude long endurance, "We have some understanding. We have given our request, letter of request has gone there and they have to respond."
The drone deal with the US to procure the predator drones arose first in 2017 but solidified ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s official state visit to Washington in 2023. India may purchase 31 drones manufactured by the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI), with an estimated worth of over USD $3 billion.
The acquisition of these drones will help India to boost its surveillance capabilities beyond its borders to the north and at sea in the India Ocean region.
The drone deal will put India’s defense capabilities amid intensifying tensions with China on an advance stage and also increases defense ties, interoperability, and technology transfers between the United States and India.
Analysts say only the United States has these drones. China has been trying to acquire it but has not been able to do so.
These drones when procured will give India new capabilities. The country's adversaries are worried and may try to scuttle the acquisition process.
"Along with technology’s evolving role in conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war has set the UAV industry up to rise exponentially. The UAVs played a vital role in the Russia-Ukraine war as a tactical technology that helped not only in battlefield surveillance and artillery spotting but also in attacking enemy vehicles. Drones have improved military capabilities through better reconnaissance, target acquisition and surveillance. Since they are unmanned, the lives of the pilots are not at stake," notes an article in South Asian Voices.
Indian Govt sources say the 'drone' acquisition is not against ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) as the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing Tapas, a drone in MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) category.
The MQ9B is a high altitude drone and has long endurance.
HAL has procured eight F414 engines. The F414 will also be used to develop India's next generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
India's Air Force is keen to shore up its fighter squadrons, which have fallen to 31 from a target of 42.23-Jun-2023
GE Aerospace said the MOU is a “major milestone” of PM Modi's visit to the US in 2023 and a “key element in strengthening defence co-operation” between the two countries. According to the company, the agreement includes the “potential joint production” of GE Aerospace's 98 kN F414-INS6 engines in India.
“GE Aerospace continues to work with the US government to receive the necessary export authorisation for this,” the company said. It added that the agreement will “advance” its earlier commitment to build 99 F414-INS6 engines for the IAF for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk 2 programme.
GE Aerospace added that the MOU will also support the selection of the F414-INS6 for the prototype development, testing, and certification of India's fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project. “GE will continue to collaborate with the Indian government on the AMCA Mk 2 engine programme,” the company said.
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