India hopes to launch the domestic manufacturing line for General Electric’s F414 jet engines by the end of this year, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said in an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18. The development is critical for the timely production of the indigenous Tejas Mark 2 fighter aircraft.
When asked about the status of negotiations between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and General Electric (GE), Singh said, "This year? I hope so. This is being led by HAL. We don't get into the nitty gritty of that negotiation, but on our part, we've been asking both players, as well as HAL, to try and expedite this so that our production schedule for the future Tejas—I think it's Mark 2—doesn't get affected.”
“So yes, that is something that we are nudging from our side, but the nitty gritty of the negotiations we are leaving to these two agencies,” he added.
The government is closely tracking the price negotiations between HAL and GE and encouraging both parties to speed up the process, given the strategic importance of the Tejas programme and the wider goal of strengthening domestic defence manufacturing.
The F414 engine is a key component for the Tejas Mark 2, an upgraded version of India's indigenous fighter jet. The ongoing deal with GE is expected to involve technology transfer and pave the way for local production, furthering India's long-term goal of strategic autonomy in aerospace.
While the F414 engine will address near-term requirements through technology transfer and local assembly, Singh also reiterated that India’s long-term focus remains clear: the country wants full indigenous intellectual property rights (IPR) in aero engine manufacturing.
While Singh did not provide a specific timeline, the Defence Ministry’s push to expedite the process underscores the urgency of maintaining momentum in critical defence programmes and the broader push toward an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
