F404 IN20 Engine (HAL / GE Aerospace)
- Blogs
- September 15, 2025
Syllabus: GS3 — Defence (Aerospace / Indigenous manufacturing & procurement)
In News:
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) ordered 99 F404‑IN20 engines from GE Aerospace for the LCA Tejas Mk‑1A.
Context / About
- The F404‑IN20 is a variant of the GE F404 afterburning turbofan family, tailored for India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk‑1/Mk‑1A.
- It is reported as the highest-thrust version in the F404 family, featuring a higher-flow fan, advanced hot-section materials and single‑crystal turbine blades for improved durability.
- Equipped with FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) for precise performance and fuel management.
Significance / Importance
- Critical for performance enhancements of Tejas Mk‑1A — affecting speed, payload and sortie generation capability.
- Demonstrates ongoing defence industrial partnerships: foreign-supplied engines integrated with domestic airframe manufacture.
- Procurement decisions like this influence timelines for aircraft induction and squadron readiness.
Do you know?
- FADEC provides optimized engine control across the flight envelope, improving safety, reliability and fuel efficiency compared with mechanical control systems.