Our Bureau
Washington
The India-US deal to jointly produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force is revolutionary, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has conveyed to the lawmakers.
The landmark deal was announced last June during the historic Official State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US. Austin told the House Appropriations Subcommittee that the United States has a “great relationship” with India.
General Electric signed a memorandum of understanding with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) to co-produce F-414 fighter jet engines in India.
“We recently have enabled India to produce a jet weapon, a jet engine in India. And that’s kind of revolutionary. That will provide a great capability to them. We are also co-producing an armoured vehicle with India,” he said.
“So, all of these things, when you add them up, are probably more than we have seen happen in that region in a very, very long time,” Austin said.
Valued at nearly $1 billion, the deal will lead to an 80% technology transfer for the F414 engines, which includes coating for the hot end of the engine as well as crystal blades and laser drilling technology.
