Masterstroke by Modi govt as India set to finalise BIG deal with US to build..., deal to be signed by...
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is expected to finalise a big deal with US defence company GE Aerospace by March to jointly build fighter jet engines in India. These engines will be used in the next generation of Indian combat aircraft, said HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil, news agency PTI. The plan to co-produce GE's F-414 engines in India was first announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2023 US visit. However, the project faced delays due to long negotiations over sharing advanced technology.
In a recent interview with PTI Videos, DK Sunil shared that the main technical talks with GE are now done, especially around technology transfer (ToT). 'We have agreed on around 80 per cent transfer of technology,' he said. 'Those discussions are mostly over. Now, we are working on the commercial side of the deal.'
He added that HAL hopes to finalise the agreement within this financial year, meaning the deal could be signed by March 2025.
This project is a big step towards boosting India's defence manufacturing and making the country more self-reliant in building advanced military equipment. India, US move closer to engine deal as GE's F-414 set to power Tejas Mk2 and AMCA
Progress on the joint production of GE's powerful F-414 jet engines already used in fighter jets by countries like the US, Sweden, and Australia is being seen as a major breakthrough, especially because the US has traditionally kept tight control over its military technology.
HAL Chairman DK Sunil said that these engines will be installed in India's upcoming Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mark 2 and the first prototypes of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India's future fifth-generation fighter. 'We're having regular discussions with GE Aerospace,' Sunil said.
HAL is currently developing the Tejas Mk2 as a more advanced version of the original Tejas, with a stronger engine, better electronic warfare systems, higher payload capacity, and modern avionics.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is also in the process of buying about 180 Tejas Mk-1A jets, at a cost of roughly Rs. 1.15 lakh crore. These single-engine fighters will gradually replace the ageing MiG-21 aircraft in IAF's fleet. India boosts air power with AMCA, Tejas jets and Prachand helicopter deal
India is moving forward with its ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, aimed at developing a medium-weight fighter jet with stealth technology and deep-strike capabilities. The AMCA, along with the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, is expected to become a core part of the Indian Air Force's future fleet.
HAL Chairman DK Sunil also spoke about a massive deal signed earlier this year for the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) 'Prachand'.
In March 2025, the Defence Ministry approved the purchase of 156 Prachand helicopters from HAL, worth around Rs. 62,700 crore, to strengthen the combat strength of the Indian military. 'This is the biggest defence contract in India's history,' Sunil said. 'It's a huge boost to our mission of self-reliance in defence (Aatmanirbharta).'
He added that the delivery of Prachand helicopters will begin in 2028.
The Prachand is India's first indigenously designed and built combat helicopter. It can fly at high altitudes, over 4,500 metres, making it ideal for mountain warfare. HAL has already delivered 15 helicopters in a limited series, and full production will now continue.
The helicopters will be completely made in India, and they will come equipped with powerful weapons including rockets and anti-tank guided missiles, giving the military more firepower and flexibility in the battlefield.
(With PTI inputs)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
17 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Modi likely to be in US next month for UNGA meet, bilateral talks with Trump
Preparations are underway to schedule a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in the last week of September, The Indian Express has learnt. The ostensible reason is to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but a key objective will be to meet US President Donald Trump, iron out the issues on trade and arrive at a common ground on tariffs. This will also give an opportunity for the two leaders to announce a trade deal. However, for this to fructify, a lot of moving parts have to fall in place. There has to be movement on two fronts — the Russia-Ukraine war and the Indo-US trade deal. Negotiations are underway on both fronts, and the stakes for Delhi are high since it has been slapped with 50 per cent tariffs by the US — 25 per cent for its high tariffs and 25 per cent penalty for buying Russian oil. On the Russia-Ukraine war front, Delhi is closely following the meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 to discuss a resolution to the war in Ukraine. Modi has already spoken to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the last few days. A resolution to the conflict is in India's interest, sources said, and this has been conveyed to both leaders. On the trade deal front, Indian and American negotiators had been close to sealing a deal, but the US President was not happy about the deal that was agreed between the interlocutors. So, the negotiators have to discuss the terms of the deal further, and they have to offer new terms, as red lines have been drawn. But the two sides are focused on the new goal for bilateral trade — 'Mission 500' — aiming to more than double total bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. This was decided during Modi's visit to the White House where he met Trump in February this year. They had also agreed that to realise this ambition, they would require new, fair-trade terms, and they had announced plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall this year. And to conclude a wide-ranging BTA, the US and India had agreed to take an integrated approach to strengthen and deepen bilateral trade across the goods and services sector, and work towards increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and deepening supply chain integration. But that has run into rough weather. And the officials and negotiators have to unlock the issues and negotiate a deal by September last week – the Prime Minister's visit to the US is expected to 'dot the i's and cross the t's', sources said. Now, to schedule the visit, as a first step, the Indian side has reached out to the UN headquarters for a speaking slot for the Prime Minister at the UN General Assembly. As of now, that has been scheduled for September 26 morning. Trump is slated to speak on September 23. At the UNGA, permanent missions to the UN have to indicate the level of representation from each country, and the speaking slot of 15-minutes is granted accordingly. If the PM's visit takes place, it will give an opportunity to speak at the UNGA and hold bilateral meetings with Trump and other world leaders. Zelenskyy also indicated Monday, after his phone call with Modi, that they 'agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly'. Sources said plans are underway since the entire process of accreditation and travel arrangements to the UN needs to be completed in August. Ties between India and the US have been impacted in recent months after Trump claimed to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan — a claim denied by Delhi. He followed it with diatribes against India on tariffs, and imposed 50 per cent tariffs. Sources said that since the two countries are strategic partners, they have to sort out the issues, and the PM's visit will be to smoothen the issues, so that a visit by the US President to India can take place in October for the summit of Quad leaders.
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Lok Sabha passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill by voice vote
New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) The Lok Sabha today passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025 by voice vote. The Bill aims to ensure the benefits of the mining sector reach the common people, introduce transparency in the allocation of mines and promote development in the sector. While presenting the bill in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, said the proposed amendments aim to boost employment opportunities and ensure that tribals and those linked to the mining sector directly benefit from the reforms. He pointed out that prior to the Modi government, mine allocations were done with minimal oversight, allowing mafia groups to dominate the sector. This led to the Supreme Court cancelling 104 mine allocations due to corruption. He emphasised that the scenario has now significantly improved. Reddy also mentioned that the mining sector was once controlled by politically influential individuals and marred by exploitation. In contrast, he said, the current environment fosters development, with common citizens now seeing real benefits. Taking a dig at the Opposition members who were protesting the bill, he said that their opposition stems from a lack of faith in the people. Earlier, during the debate, BJP MP Malavika Devi highlighted that mine allocations were previously handled in an unethical manner, but reforms have changed that. She said the bill would help uplift the poor and improve the nation's global standing by ensuring transparency in mining. BJP's Brijmohan Agrawal called the legislation a key step towards the development of tribal regions, stating that it would benefit marginalized communities. CM Gurumoorthy Maddila of the YSR Congress and G Lakshminarayan from the Telugu Desam Party also took part in the discussion. UNI RBE SSP Various schemes to financially support divyang's healthcare: Govt 12 Aug 2025 | 8:28 PM New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) The Government today told Parliament that a slew of schemes aimed at improving healthcare access and financial support for persons with disabilities (PwD) has been launched for the welfare of the sector in the past few years. see more.. Parliament adjourns till Aug 18 amid Opposition ruckus over Bihar's SIR 12 Aug 2025 | 8:21 PM New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Both Houses of Parlaiment --Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - adjourned today till August 18 after wrapping up key legislative business amid vocal protests by the Opposition over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. see more.. Over 1 75 cr diagnoised with diabetes & hypertension in last 6 months: Govt 12 Aug 2025 | 6:51 PM New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Over 1.11 crore and 64 lakhs people respectively have been diagnosed for hypertension and diabetes under the central health programme in the last six months till June this year, the government told Rajya Sabha today. see more.. LS Speaker forms 3-member panel to probe charges against Justice Yashwant Varma 12 Aug 2025 | 4:41 PM New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today constituted a three-member committee to probe the charges against Allahabad High Court Judge Yashwant Varma. This follows the alleged discovery of burnt cash at his official Delhi residence after a fire in March 2025, when he was a Delhi High Court Judge The committee would comprise Justice Arvind Kumar of the Supreme Court, Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, and Senior Advocate at the Karnataka High Court BV Acharya. see more..
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Farmer groups hail PM Modi's bold stand against US trade tariffs
NEW DELHI: Representatives of several farmer organisations from across the country on Tuesday expressed their gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his bold decision to not compromise with farmers' interests during trade talks despite pressure from the US. The farmer leaders, who attended a meeting with Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, extended their support to the Central govt. Chouhan asked them "not to worry" about the current "testing times" due to higher US tariffs, saying the huge agricultural sector will explore new geographies for exporting its produce. The farmer representatives specifically referred to Modi's remarks, made while addressing the M S Swaminathan Centenary International Conference last week, that he won't compromise with farmers' interests and was even ready to pay a heavy personal price to protect them. Modi's remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff burden on Indian goods. Though both the countries had been discussing bilateral trade issues for the last few months, they got stuck over US' demand for greater access to India's agriculture and dairy market. "PM Modi has made an unwavering statement in the interests of farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen... The announcement not only brings relief to millions of food providers but also strengthens the self-reliance of agriculture and rural India," said Dharmendra Choudhary, national president of the Indian Farmer Chaudhary Charan Singh Organisation.
