NEW DELHI: GE Aerospace on Monday announced a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to establish an in-country depot facility for F404-IN20 engines powering the Tejas fleet.
The facility will be set up in India by the IAF with technical support from GE Aerospace. It aims to strengthen indigenous defence sustainment and reduce dependence on overseas repair centres. Officials said the move will significantly improve turnaround time for engine maintenance.
The depot will be owned, operated, and maintained by the IAF. In a press release, GE Aerospace will provide technical inputs, training, support staff, and a supply of spares and specialised equipment.
The development marks another step in the decades-long partnership between GE Aerospace and the IAF.
Rita Flaherty, Vice President for Sales and Business Development, Defence and Systems at GE Aerospace, said the company remains committed to supporting India’s armed forces and expanding local sustainment capabilities for the Tejas fleet. She added that the upcoming facility will enhance the availability of F404-IN20 engines and ensure access to advanced technology for operational needs.
GE Aerospace also highlighted its broader commitment to India’s aerospace ecosystem, covering design, development, manufacturing, and sustainment across civil and military aviation.
The company said its engineering training initiatives have produced skilled talent through programmes such as the Edison Engineering Development Program. It added that manufacturing-focused skilling efforts at its Pune facility have trained over 5,000 individuals over the past decade.
In September 2025, the GE Aerospace Foundation, in partnership with United Way, launched the Next Engineers programme in Bengaluru to support thousands of engineering aspirants through a four-year college and career readiness initiative.
Apart from the Tejas programme, GE Aerospace engines power several Indian military platforms, including the Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and MH-60R helicopters, as well as the Air Force’s AH-64 Apache helicopters. Its LM2500 marine gas turbines are also used in key naval assets such as the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and the P-17 Shivalik-class frigates.
