GE Aerospace and Indian Air Force to Establish Tejas Engine Depot in India, Boosting Defence Self-Reliance!
GE Aerospace has taken a significant step in strengthening India’s defence ecosystem through a new agreement with the Indian Air Force to establish a dedicated in-country depot for the F404-IN20 engines that power the indigenous HAL Tejas fleet. This move marks a major advancement in India’s push for self-reliance in defence sustainment and maintenance capabilities.
The upcoming depot facility will be owned, operated, and maintained by the Indian Air Force, with GE Aerospace providing critical technical expertise, training, specialised tools, and a steady supply of spare parts. Once operational, the facility will eliminate the need to send engines overseas for repairs and maintenance—a shift that is expected to significantly reduce turnaround times, improve fleet availability, and enhance operational readiness.
This initiative represents the next phase in a long-standing partnership between GE Aerospace and the Indian Air Force, a collaboration that spans over four decades. Over the years, GE has played a crucial role in powering several of India’s key defence platforms, and this latest development further deepens its engagement with the country’s evolving aerospace and defence landscape.
The F404-IN20 engine, specifically tailored for the Tejas aircraft, is a vital component of India’s indigenous fighter programme. By establishing a domestic depot for these engines, India not only strengthens its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities but also takes a meaningful step towards reducing dependency on foreign service centres—an important objective under the broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
Beyond defence sustainment, GE Aerospace has been actively contributing to India’s aerospace ecosystem across multiple dimensions, including design, engineering, manufacturing, and skill development. The company has invested significantly in nurturing local talent, with around 150 engineers graduating from its prestigious Edison Engineering Development Programme. Additionally, over the past decade, GE’s skilling initiatives in India have trained more than 5,000 individuals in core manufacturing disciplines at its Pune facility.
Further strengthening its commitment to future talent development, the GE Aerospace Foundation, in collaboration with United Way, launched the “Next Engineers” programme in Bengaluru in September 2025. This four-year initiative aims to support 4,000 aspiring engineers by providing them with the skills, mentorship, and career pathways needed to succeed in the engineering sector.
GE Aerospace’s footprint in India extends well beyond the Tejas programme. Its engines power a range of critical defence platforms, including the Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and MH60R helicopters, as well as the Indian Air Force’s AH-64 Apache helicopters. Additionally, its LM2500 marine gas turbines are deployed on key naval assets such as the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and the P-17 Shivalik-class frigates, underlining the company’s integral role in India’s defence infrastructure.
With the establishment of the Tejas engine depot, GE Aerospace and the Indian Air Force are not only enhancing operational efficiency but also reinforcing India’s ambition to build a robust, self-sustaining defence ecosystem supported by global partnerships and local capabilities.
