GE Aerospace has signed a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to establish an in-country depot facility for the F404-IN20 engines that power the IAF’s Light Combat Aircraft Tejas fleet. The facility will be set up and operated by the IAF, with GE Aerospace providing technical inputs, training, support staff, spares, and specialized equipment.
Once operational, the depot will eliminate the need to send engines to overseas repair centers, significantly improving turnaround times and strengthening India’s indigenous defense sustainment efforts.
“This collaboration marks the next step in our four-decade-long partnership with the IAF,” said Rita Flaherty, Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. “Through this depot, we will support engine availability for the Tejas fleet, ensuring access to cutting-edge technology for India’s defense needs.”
Beyond the Tejas program, GE Aerospace engines also power the Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and MH-60R helicopters, as well as the IAF’s AH-64 Apache helicopters. Its LM2500 marine gas turbines power the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and the P-17 Shivalik-class frigates.
GE Aerospace remains committed to developing India’s aerospace ecosystem across design, manufacturing, and sustainment. To date, 150 engineers have completed the company’s local two-year Edison Engineering Development Program. Over the past decade, skilling initiatives have trained more than 5,000 people in core manufacturing skills at its Pune factory. In September 2025, the GE Aerospace Foundation launched Next Engineers in Bengaluru, a four-year program aimed at helping 4,000 young engineering aspirants.
