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Due to the delay in developing an indigenous engine for the homegrown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’, India has invited bids from General Electric Company and Eurojet Turbo GmbH to supply an engine.
The LCA ‘Tejas’ is being designed by state-owned Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) which is the fighter development wing of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
ADA Director P.S. Subramanyam has indicated that ADA will be evaluating the E J 200 engine built by Eurojet, a consortium that includes Rolls-Royce Group and General Electric’s GE 414 engine for the Mark II version of Tejas. The EJ200 is fitted in the Eurofighter and the GE 414 in Boeing’s F-18 jets.
Eurojet officials in India have indicated that while the tender stipulates 60 per cent of transfer of technology, Eurojet can give more than that on the condition of a partnership.
While DRDO’s unit called Gas Turbine and Research Establishment (GTRE) has been working on an indigenous engine named Kaveri for the Tejas for nearly two decades, the engine does not qualify due to lack of thrust.
While GTRE plans to partner with French firm Snecma to develop a powerful engine for ‘Tejas’, Indian Air Force (IAF) feels it will further delay the induction and alternative proven engine must be acquired.
The IAF has so far placed orders with state-owned plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 28 Tejas jets powered by the GE 404 engines, and has committed to buying 140 more of these planes, comprising seven squadrons, with higher powered engines.
‘Tejas’ LCA is a tailless single-engine supersonic fighter with delta wing and it uses fly-by-wire technology that enables pilots to control the plane electronically through on-board computers. ADA is also designing a naval version and a twin-seater trainer version of the indigenous LCA.
‘Tejas’ LCA first flew in January 2001 and test pilots have flown nearly 1,150 sorties on seven Tejas jets till now. The aircraft needs to complete 400 more flights by 2010 for an initial operational clearance (IOC), the minimum standard set for the plane, said ADA Director P.S.Subramanyam.
The plane is undergoing development trials with a GE 404 engine, but this falls short of the thrust it requires in operational conditions.
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